The Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) and the University of South Africa (UNISA) are deepening their academic and research collaboration through a two-day seminar taking place on 23–24 September 2026 at TUM. The UNISA delegation is led by Prof. Inderasan Naidoo, Head of Research and Graduate Studies, and Prof. Amos Kubeka, Head of the Department of Mathematical Sciences.
The delegation began its engagement with a courtesy call on TUM’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Laila Abubakar. She welcomed the visiting team and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to the partnership, assuring the delegation of support from University Management and Council. She also proposed developing the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) into a Memorandum of Action, with clear activities to guide implementation.
The workshop brings together researchers and students from both institutions for research presentations, interactive sessions, scholarly exchange and networking. Speaking at the opening, TUM’s Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic, Research and Extension, Prof. Peter Gichangi, stressed the need for practical results:
“For this collaboration to be truly sustainable, it must go beyond good intentions. Success requires actionable outcomes.”
Prof. Gichangi identified joint research, publications, postgraduate development and knowledge exchange as areas for collaboration. He encouraged participants to use the workshop to exchange ideas, build networks and develop opportunities for continued work.
Prof. Inderasan Naidoo, who has published more than 40 review papers, also highlighted the importance of empowering women in higher education. He noted that women account for more than 70 per cent of undergraduates at UNISA, underscoring the need to create opportunities that support and empower women through higher education and research.
Prof. Naidoo further called for greater collaboration and mutual support among African institutions, emphasising that Africans should be able to seek support from one another rather than depending primarily on European countries. He positioned stronger intra-African academic and research partnerships as an important pathway towards building capacity and advancing knowledge on the continent.
The partnership also offers undergraduate and postgraduate students opportunities for academic engagement, research mentorship and co-supervision, particularly in Applied Mathematics, Theoretical Physics and Financial Mathematics. A postgraduate student co-supervised through the collaboration graduated this year, marking a milestone for the partnership.
At TUM, the collaboration is spearheaded by Dr. Dorca Stephen, Director of the Directorate of Quality Assurance and a lecturer in the department of Mathematics and Physics, alongside the university’s academic leadership. The engagement includes Dr. Huxley Makonde, Dean of the School of Pure and Applied Sciences, and Dr. Michael Munywoki, Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Physics.
The workshop concludes with a dedicated session on research collaboration, publication planning and next steps, giving the two institutions an opportunity to agree on concrete areas for continued engagement.
