Strategic alliances and partnerships characterise the nature of the relationships the University of Johannesburg maintains with various significant stakeholders and partners in conducting its core business at various levels. Thus we engage in mutual partnerships that will promote UJ’s core activities, viz teaching and learning, research and community engagement, in order to improve the academic quality of our programmes and enhance the extent and impact of our social relevance in a transforming society.
The University builds enduring relationships with the public and private sectors and with government, characterised by mutual respect, active partnerships and long-term commitment. Our partnerships support our strategy by providing sustainable bursaries and research funds. Over a three-year period, support to the value of R14.5 million has been provided to the Next Generation Scholarship Programme by PetroSA, Murray and Roberts, Old Mutual, Nedbank and the Ford Foundation. There has been an increase in government-supported bursaries, and the University continues to nurture its partnerships with Sasol, CSIR, the Water Research Commission, Eskom, Johannesburg Water and Mintek. Internationally, the University maintains partnerships in Africa, Europe, North America, Brazil, India and China.
A new partnership scholarship, between UJ and the Cancer Association of South Africa, was initiated in 2010. Five awards were made and an amount of R105 000 paid out. During 2010, five new memoranda of understanding and agreements were signed with international partners in France, Romania, Canada, Germany and Brazil. Under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor, the UJ executive team visited institutions in the USA including Virginia Polytechnic, Columbia University, Rensselaer Polytechnic, MIT, Boston University and the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.