WSU STUDENT AFFAIRS DELEGATION VISITS MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSITY TO FORGE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

In a bold stride towards global collaboration and enriched student development, two distinguished WSU representatives embarked on an official visit to Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) in India.

The visit — taking place from 20 to 24 October 2025, seeks to formalise a partnership that directly advances Goal 2 of WSU’s strategic objectives: “Enriching the student experience.”

The WSU delegation comprised Vumile Sonqishe, Deputy Director of Student Affairs responsible for Student Leadership Training and Development, and Khanyisile Blaai, who oversees Student Governance and Leadership Development and serves as the Coordinator for the Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Hub at WSU.

This visit signified a renewed commitment to fostering international collaboration, knowledge exchange, and sustainable student development between the two institutions. It also builds upon a relationship first established in 2011, when WSU and MGU signed their initial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The revised MoU, set to be signed during this visit, reflects a modernised vision aligned with current global trends in higher education. It expands the partnership into emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, digital learning initiatives, collaborative grant applications, and joint conferences and seminars on student innovation and leadership.

The partnership will centre on four key areas of cooperation:

• Student Services Collaboration: Launching joint student development projects in governance, leadership, innovation, and sustainable development.
• Staff and Student Exchange: Promoting cross-cultural understanding and professional growth through exchange programs and internships.
• Capacity Building: Designing professional training initiatives aimed at strengthening entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems within both universities.
• Community Impact Initiatives: Co-developing outreach projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to foster meaningful social transformation.

Speaking on the significance of the visit, Sonqishe expressed how partnerships of this nature are “critical for expanding WSU’s global footprint and preparing our students for an interconnected world.”

“This collaboration with MGU gives our students and staff the opportunity to gain exposure to diverse perspectives, innovative practices, and cutting-edge research methods that will ultimately strengthen our institutional impact,” he said.

Blaai echoed this sentiment, highlighting the value of cross-border innovation: “In an age where creativity, entrepreneurship, and leadership are essential, this partnership will allow our students to learn, engage, and co-create with peers from across the globe — empowering them to become agents of change in their communities.”

By Thando Cezula