Stellenbosch University (SU) reinforced its commitment to global collaboration by participating in EUTOPIA Week, held in Gothenburg, Sweden, from 28 June to 1 July 2026. Hosted under the theme "Finding Balance, Building Futures," the event brought together university leaders, researchers, students, and global partners to advance collaboration in education, research, and innovation.

The SU delegation was led by Vice-Chancellor and Rector, Prof Deresh Ramjugernath, and included Prof Resia Pretorius, Vice-Dean for Research in the Faculty of Science, and Alison April from SU International.

As a Global Partner of the EUTOPIA Alliance, SU played an active role in several high-level engagements, including the Board of Presidents, General Assembly, Global Institute Steering Committee, Institutional Coordinators' Meeting, and the Research Days, which focused on the theme of Health and Wellbeing.

Prof Ramjugernath also participated in the Global Partners session, "Building an Equitable and Multilateral Global Network," contributing to discussions on strengthening the role of global partners within the Alliance. Conversations centred on enhancing EUTOPIA's governance model, creating more meaningful opportunities for partner engagement, and leveraging regional ecosystems, institutional expertise, and international networks to maximise collective impact.

Participation in the Research Days enabled SU to build new connections with researchers across the Alliance, laying the groundwork for future interdisciplinary collaborations addressing global health and wellbeing challenges.

SU's visibility within the Alliance was further strengthened through the participation of Prof Rizwana Roomaney in the Young Leaders Academy, while Prof Nico Koopman delivered an invited plenary address on social impact, highlighting the University's contributions to societal engagement.

Overall, SU's participation at EUTOPIA Week strengthened its strategic position within the Alliance, expanded opportunities for collaborative research and internationalisation, and reaffirmed the University's commitment to building an inclusive and globally connected higher education ecosystem.