Joint Statement between Stellenbosch University and the University of Groningen

Stellenbosch University and the University of Groningen are committed to the internationalization of higher education and to building sustainable and equitable partnerships for the benefit of students, staff, and society.

This Joint Statement confirms these two institutions’ commitment to strengthening their collaboration in support of international education, research, and innovation.

Both institutions, individually and jointly, affirm their support for:

• their strategic and comprehensive partnership

• impactful research collaboration and joint funding applications in all areas, especially energy transitions, digital transformation, and health solutions

• joint academic chairs, starting with the field of computational astronomy

• collaboration within the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities Clusters of Excellence and other consortia

• capacity-building in all areas of science

• joint academic programmes, from undergraduate to PhD level

• the establishment of a joint SU-UG Graduate School

• promoting transdisciplinarity by means of public-private-academic partnerships

• optimal policy alignment between our two institutions

We recognize that global challenges, such as those outlined in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, require global solutions. Therefore, responsible, impactful international collaboration is essential. Stellenbosch University and the University of Groningen have a shared vision for such collaboration and are committed to working together to achieve it.

UG Strategic Partnership Framework