Harvard University’s Centre for African Studies visits UCT’s International Office

On Monday, 24 February 2025, the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) International Office hosted a delegation from Harvard University’s Centre for African Studies to explore new avenues for collaboration in undergraduate student exchange and postgraduate research. The Harvard delegation was led by Dr Zoey Marks, Director of the Centre for African Studies with Ms Nthatisi Quella, Director of Harvard’s Africa Office, and they were warmly welcomed by UCT’s International Office Director Quinton Johnson, PhD.

Vibrant discussions included Ms Tracey Goslar, Manager: Partnerships, Mobility and Recruitment; Ms Judith Roberts, Semester Study Abroad Co-ordinator and Ms Zinzi Nkalitshana, Exchanges Co-ordinator. The engagements focused on strengthening student mobility and enhancing research collaboration for students and faculty at both institutions. Harvard’s deep engagement through its Centre for African Studies aligns well with UCT’s aim of driving impactful, globally connected research and education, which was further discussed with the Dean of Humanities, Prof. Shose Kessi.

Further discussions between Directors Marks and Johnson centred on the Harvard South Africa Fellowship Programme, and the best ways to strengthen and expand the engagement. The visit concluded with an exchange of ideas for future joint initiatives with academic staff, underscoring the mutual commitment to academic excellence and international collaboration. This engagement marks a significant step in strengthening ties between UCT and Harvard, paving the way for meaningful academic exchanges in the years to come.