Stellenbosch University (SU) recently hosted a high-level delegation from the Paris Region (Île-de-France) as part of a broader regional mission to South Africa that included visits to Cape Town, Pretoria, and Johannesburg. 

The visit, led by Valérie Pécresse, President of the Regional Council of the Paris Region, marked an important milestone in strengthening both academic and diplomatic ties between South Africa and France. 

Central to the occasion was the signing of an agreement between SU and Université Paris-Saclay to promote student exchanges, joint research, and innovation partnerships that will deepen cooperation between the two institutions. The signing, witnessed by Pécresse, underscores the strategic importance of this collaboration within the broader France–South Africa higher education relationship, says Robert Kotzé, Senior Director: SU International.

After a brief walking tour of SU’s campus, the delegation was welcomed to the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking by Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Deresh Ramjugernath. Sharing his vision for SU to become Africa’s first university ranked among the world’s top 100, he highlighted “enhanced and diverse” partnerships as key enablers of that goal. 

Ramjugernath emphasised the value of extensive collaboration with universities, governments, and civil society organisations, noting: “This is a strong focus for us because ultimately, through this kind of engagement in a multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary way, you can actually achieve the kind of impact you want as a university.” He added that such partnerships not only strengthen academic excellence at SU but also help ensure the sustainability of the University.

Pécresse, in turn, emphasised the importance of building a strong “bridge” between South Africa and France. Outlining shared research priorities and goals between SU and Université Paris-Saclay, she called for a two-way partnership with mutual benefits.  Echoing her sentiments, Prof Mehran Mostafavi, Vice-President for Research at Paris-Saclay University, noted that collaboration between the two universities, beginning with student exchanges, would enable both institutions to co-develop solutions to global challenges. As a poignant demonstration of the power of partnerships, it was through SU being invited to partner with the EUGLOH Alliance on Global Health that the Université Paris-Saclay expressed an interest in this bilateral agreement, explained Kotzé.

The French delegation also included representatives from six Paris-based companies interested in exploring opportunities for digital learning and technological integration. Ahead of their meeting with SU’s Chief Director of Information Technology, Dr Antoinette van der Merwe, Pécresse highlighted the potential for future collaboration between the two regions in the rapidly growing EdTech sector.