Visit cements UCT partnership with Indiana University

Back row from left: Prof John Luiz (GSB), Shawn Reynolds (IU), Lebo Lethunya (DAD), Dr Patrizio Piraino (UCT School of Economics), Prof Harold Kincaid (UCT School of Economics), Dr Russell Ally (DAD), Prof Idalene Kesner (IU), Eric DeHaan (IU) and Lara Dunwell (IAPO).
Front row from left: Prof Evance Kalula (IAPO), DVC Prof Sandra Klopper , DVC Prof Thandabantu Nhlapo, IU president Michael McRobbie, IU first lady Laurie Burns McRobbie and Prof David Zaret (IU).

"Meetings like this exemplify the internationalisation that is deeply rooted in all aspects of UCT life, including teaching and research."

This statement by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Thandabantu Nhlapo followed a recent meeting with a delegation from Indiana University (IU). The delegation was led by IU's president Michael McRobbie and his wife, Laurie Burns McRobbie. Nhlapo co-hosted them with fellow Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Sandra Klopper.

The purpose of their visit was to explore the possibility to expand the IU's partnership to include major universities in South Africa. The meeting provided an opportunity to explore synergies between UCT and IU, particularly in the fields of business, astronomy and African studies.

IU has a long history of sending their students to UCT on the International Academic's Programme Office's (IAPO) semester study abroad programme through the Council on International Education Exchange, a non-profit international exchange organisation. IU students have been coming to UCT for the last 13 years.

IU is ranked 48th in the United States and 84th in the world, according to the 2012 Academic Ranking of World Universities.

Story by Abigail Calata. Image by Michael Hammond.