Shenzhen Polytechnic University (SZPU) has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Durban University of Technology (DUT), South Africa.

On November 6, a delegation from DUT, including Vice-Chancellor Professor Folufhelho Nemafohla, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Gugu Mchunu, Director of Research Nomcebo Mtombeni, and Director of the Confucius Institute Wu Lin, visited Shenzhen Polytechnic University. The delegation was warmly received by Vice President Dong Chaojun at the Mingde Building, Room 204. During the meeting, both parties held in-depth discussions about the educational features, development visions, and potential cooperation between the two institutions. The MoU signing ceremony was successfully held afterward.

Vice President Dong Chaojun welcomed the DUT delegation and briefly introduced Shenzhen Polytechnic University’s history and academic strengths. He noted that SZPU has long maintained a strong relationship with South African universities, actively pursuing academic and technical collaborations. He also highlighted that South Africa, as an important partner in SZPU’s initiatives to promote "Belt and Road" international education cooperation, offers significant potential for joint efforts in vocational education.

Professor Nemafohla then provided a detailed overview of DUT's development. He emphasized that DUT is one of South Africa's top universities of technology, renowned for its strength in technological innovation and research. The university is committed to providing high-quality vocational education to its students. As one of the leading public universities among South Africa's 26 institutions, DUT has established a broad network of international educational collaborations and achieved significant success in its global development.

During the discussions, Wu Lin also introduced the establishment and growth of DUT’s Confucius Institute, noting its key role in promoting cultural exchange between China and South Africa, language teaching, and student exchanges.

Following the meeting, both universities officially signed the MoU, aimed at strengthening cooperation in areas such as faculty and student exchanges, research collaboration, and faculty development. Both parties expressed their commitment to nurturing high-quality, globally-minded talent with cross-cultural communication skills. This partnership is expected to bring new vitality to the vocational education sectors of both China and South Africa, opening new doors for exchange and collaboration in various fields.

The signing ceremony was attended by Liang Zhaofeng, member of the CPC Committee of Shenzhen Polytechnic University and Dean of the School of Mechatronic Engineering; Yang Wenming, Director of the UNESCO-UNEVOC Centre for Vocational Education; Niu Mao, Associate Dean of the School of Medical Technology and Nursing; Yang Congkun, Deputy Director of the Office of International Exchange and Cooperation; Li Xin, Foreign Affairs Officer of the School of Electronic and Communication Engineering; and Chen Yana, Program Officer of the Office of International Exchange and Cooperation. 

(Office of International Exchange and Cooperation, Chen Yana)