EC UNIVERSITIES HOST NORTHERN IRELAND UNIVERSITIES FOR RESEARCH CONFERENCE

An inter-varsity gathering between two Northern Ireland Universities and the four Eastern Cape universities has been described as a ground-breaking step towards building ecosystems of support for research and development.

The four-day Cross Cultural Connections Workshop attended by Ulster University, Queens University, University of Fort Hare, Rhodes University and Nelson Mandela University drew academics from two continents to discuss strategies to improve ways research can bring solutions to societal problems and more.  

The convention kickstarted on Monday at Iyunivesithi Walter Sisulu’s Postdam campus site before moving to University of Fort Hare’s Alice campus on Tuesday.

The last leg of the workshop concluded at Rhodes University in Makhanda on Thursday.

Program facilitator and Rhodes University Deputy Vice Chancellor in the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships Dr. Kwezi Mzilikazi said that the workshop was aimed at building ecosystems of support for research and development.

“We have already started in this forum to discuss how we are going to keep this thing going.  We will form a community of practice that supports people in our four institutions,” she said.

Directorate of Research and Innovation Director Professor Thobeka Ncanywa welcomed her counterparts from Ulster University and Queens University, from Belfast Northen Ireland, during the first day.

In her welcoming address, Ncanywa highlighted the ground-breaking research done by Walter Sisulu researchers adding how the workshop will play a pivotal role in the future of research for the institution.

“The main aim of this collaboration is to improve efficiency in the research division,” she said.

During the second day at the University of Fort Hare, Professor Andrew Lietch, from the university’s international affairs and partnerships division, raised the need for sharing best practices.

“This is a significant program for us, we are learning from each other. How we can do research more efficiently and how we can partner together”, he said.

He added that the plan is to create a project proposal of common interests at the end of the year which will benefit both societies.

“The plan is that at the end of this year, we hope that we can prepare project proposals with Northern Ireland, University of Forth Hare, Rhodes, Walter Sisulu and Mandela University where we work together in areas of common interest that will benefit society here as well as Northen Ireland,” Leitch added.

Sharing the rich history of the university, archivist Ayodele Ladokun took the delegates through a campus tour delving deep into its rich tapestry and history of producing some of the continent’s head of states.

“There’s a lot in our archives that can be used for research purposes,” he said.

By  Namhla Mbongendlu