by Kgaugelo Selane
Two students from the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) will be travelling to Germany for an exchange programme at Technische Hochschule Ulm (THU) in Germany for the Spring Semester of 2025. Adewale Zakariyahu Obaro and Ziphilele Sylvia Mngomezulu, both from the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, will spend five months studying at THU’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology from 3 March to 31 July 2025.
The exchange programme offers an opportunity for students to gain practical experience and advanced technical skills in an international setting. THU has awarded scholarships to both students to partially fund their stay in Germany. This financial support highlights their exceptional academic achievements and will help to ease the financial burden of studying abroad.
The programme is part of a formal partnership between TUT and THU, governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in February 2023, to promote academic cooperation and cultural exchange. The agreement aims to enhance collaboration in education, science and technology between the two institutions. Key elements of the MoU include student and faculty exchanges, joint funding applications, joint research initiatives and access to advanced learning facilities at THU. The agreement also ensures that the students remain enrolled at their home university and are exempt from paying tuition fees at the host institution while receiving assistance with accommodation and administrative requirements.
Dr Vathiswa Papu-Zamxaka, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Engagement, highlighted the importance of such partnerships in preparing students for the demands of a globalised world. She noted that this exchange programme provides students with the chance to immerse themselves in an international academic environment, gain valuable global perspectives and enhance their skills and employability. This programme further asserts TUT’s commitment to producing future ready graduates.
This milestone also reflects TUT’s dedication to creating transformative opportunities for its students and promoting international collaboration. TUT congratulates Obaro and Mngomezulu on this significant achievement and wishes them every success in this exciting new chapter of their academic journey.