Building a Connected Future: UCT and Carleton University Explore Global Partnerships
On 19 and 20 May 2025, the University of Cape Town’s International Office welcomed representatives from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, Professor Rafik Goubran, Vice-President: Research & International and Professor David Hornsby, Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President for a two-day engagement focused on deepening international collaboration. The engagement kicked off on Monday afternoon with a focused discussion at the International Office, where the visiting delegates met with Quinton Johnson PhD, Director of the International Office and his team to explore international academic programming and strategic alignment between the two institutions.
The central theme that emerged powerfully during the visit was connectivity, not just as a technical concept, but as a guiding principle for global partnerships in research, education and community engagement.
Connectivity as a Unifying Theme
The idea of connectivity was explored not only in terms of cyber infrastructure and digital collaboration, but also in its human, cultural and intellectual dimensions. The discussions highlighted the role of the universities as a connection point, a dynamic space where people, disciplines and communities intersect to co-create solutions to shared global challenges. From particle physics and international affairs to human-computer interaction and artificial intelligence, Carleton and UCT both bring strong research capabilities to the table. Additionally, a particular area of synergy is how AI and big data can be applied ethically to preserve and advance indigenous knowledge systems, including indigenous languages, traditional medicine and cultural heritage.
Indigenous Knowledge
A central thread was the importance of indigenous knowledge and the powerful responsibility universities carry to protect, honour and amplify it. Delegates reflected on efforts in both South Africa and Canada to acknowledge the past and shape inclusive futures. As one delegate noted, “there is a powerful mechanism in protecting the knowledge of our elders, a knowledge that is spiritual, medicinal, environmental and philosophical. This is an area where Carleton and UCT can learn from one another.”
Towards a Global Educational Research Alliance
Connectivity emerged as the blueprint for future collaboration, a way of thinking about how institutions work together across borders and with communities. Through initiatives such as Semester Study Abroad, joint research projects and knowledge exchange platforms, both universities are exploring what it means to build a truly global educational alliance that is rooted in context, equity and mutual respect.
As discussions continue between UCT’s International Office, the Faculty of Humanities, the Office for Inclusivity and Change and Carleton University, there is an excitement about what lies ahead. The connectivity fostered during this visit is already forming the foundation for an innovative partnership, one that bridges continents, disciplines and cultures and will be shaped by the stories, voices and visions of both institutions.