From 26–27 January 2026, Stellenbosch University (SU) hosted a senior delegation from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium, for a two-day engagement focused on deepening dialogue around shared academic priorities and innovation-focused engagement.

Led by Prof Jan Danckaert, Rector of VUB, and Prof Karin Vanderkerken, Vice-Rector for Internationalisation, the delegation engaged with Stellenbosch University’s senior leadership — including Prof Deresh Ramjugernath, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, and Prof Sibusiso Moyo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies — as well as representatives from SU International, LaunchLab, and a variety of academic departments and research entities.

Discussions spanned key strategic priority areas such as research and innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialisation, student mobility, climate and water studies, digital inclusion, governance, and global engagement. These engagements provided an opportunity to reflect on existing cooperation between SU and VUB and to identify aligned focus areas within the broader Europe–Africa research and innovation landscape.