University of Pretoria: poster child of China-Africa collaboration

A youth dialogue meeting between South African and Chinese students took place on 07/05/2026 in Pretoria, on the topic of cooperation between the two countries.

Organised by the Chinese embassy in South Africa and the University of Pretoria, this event is further evidence of the growing ties between the university and Chinese tertiary education institutions. It is also a typical example of the flourishing collaboration between China and the African continent in higher education and research.

By partnering with Chinese institutions, UP is seeking to diversify its footprint. “Throughout our history, as the University of Pretoria, most of our collaborations were with European and American institutions”, Setsipane Mokoduwe, the Deputy Director for Internationalisation and Strategic Partnerships, explained to News Tank Academic. “But we realised we needed to partner with investors who are sharing the same challenges as us, and with whom we have comparable strengths to an extent.”

Chinese institutions turn out to be these partners, according to Mokoduwe. “They are, like us, present in…