• Photo of the South African flag and the flag of Nelson Mandely University (NMU) in front of a university building. The sky is blue sky with light veil clouds.

    Nelson Mandela University was founded in 2005 as Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Since 1998, the university has cooperated with one of its predecessor institutions, the University of Port Elizabeth. Photo: Roman Behrens/ University of Oldenburg

  • The Vice Chancellor of Nelson Mandela University (NMU), Prof. Dr. Sibongile Muthwa, and the President of the University of Oldenburg, Prof. Dr. Ralph Bruder, shake hands while looking into the camera. In their respective left hands they hold the new cooperation agreement. In the background is a display with the lettering and logo of the NMU.

    Signed a new Memorandum of Understanding between the universities: Prof. Dr. Sibongile Muthwa, Vice Chancellor of Nelson Mandela University, and Prof. Dr. Ralph Bruder, President of the University of Oldenburg. Photo: Roman Behrens/ University of Oldenburg

  • Group photo of staff and researchers from Nelson Mandela University and the University of Oldenburg in a building on the campus of Nelson Mandela University.

    Cooperation on many levels: Nelson Mandela University and the University of Oldenburg cooperate in research and teaching in a wide range of disciplines - from teacher training to sustainability research and marine sciences. Photo: Nelson Mandela University

A special cooperation

For 25 years, the Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha and our university have been cooperating successfully in research and teaching. This week, the partners are meeting in South Africa and have signed a new cooperation agreement.

For 25 years, Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha and the university have been cooperating successfully in research and teaching. This week, the partners are meeting on the campus of the South African university - and have signed a new cooperation agreement.

The Nelson Mandela University (NMU) in Gqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth, South Africa, is the only university in the world named after South Africa's most famous freedom fighter. For 25 years, the university on the Indian Ocean coast and the University of Oldenburg have been on friendly terms, cooperating in research and teaching in a wide range of disciplines - from teacher training to sustainability research and marine sciences. To mark the anniversary of the cooperation, an Oldenburg delegation is currently visiting NMU.

"In the spirit of their namesakes Nelson Mandela and Carl von Ossietzky, our universities conduct research and teaching in a socially responsible manner, value diversity and strive to educate students to become responsible members of the global community," said University President Prof. Dr. Ralph Bruder in his welcoming speech. The close cooperation between the two universities is something special, he said. „It strengthens all involved in research and teaching by focusing on values such as diversity and sustainable development.”

NMU is - along with the University of Groningen - a strategic partner university of the University of Oldenburg. Originally named Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, it was founded in 2005 and grew out of three predecessor institutions. Since the beginning of the cooperation with the University of Port Elizabeth in 1998, an important focus of the collaboration has been on educational sciences.

From teacher training to marine science

The partners currently continue this work, among other things, within the framework of the project "Dimensions of Diversity in Teacher Education" funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) - together with the University of Groningen. In addition to the internationalization of teacher training, the project aims to sensitize students to diversity in everyday school life and to impart intercultural skills. During a winter school in the second week of November, student of teacher education and lecturers from the NMU were guests in Oldenburg.

In addition, the universities cooperate with other African partners in the "East and South African-German Centre for Educational Research Methodologies and Management - CERM-ESA", which is dedicated to questions of educational research and promotes the training and continuing education of university teachers.

Other important areas of cooperation include marine sciences, higher education research, digitization, sustainability research, the use of information and communication technologies, and research on the sustainable management of coasts and oceans. In the future, the aim will be to further deepen the collaboration in research, teaching and student exchange as well as to cooperate in additional disciplines. The partners are going to set out their joint cooperation projects in a roadmap.

This might also be of interest to you:

The picture shows visitors to the International Summer Fest. They are walking around, standing at the stands, chatting or eating and drinking. A chain with different national flags hangs above the square.
Campus Life International affairs

International Summer Fest 2025

Delicious food, a great atmosphere and a variety of acts on stage - that was the International Summer Fest 2025 at the University of Oldenburg! Here…

more: International Summer Fest 2025
The picture shows a group of DAAD scholarship holders. Malve von Möllendorff and Karsten Speck are standing with them in front of a university building, all smiling at the camera. There are ten people in total.
Campus Life Educational Sciences International affairs

Inspiration through exchange

The CERM-ESA education research project brings students from African countries and researchers from Oldenburg together. Two participants talk about…

more: Inspiration through exchange
The picture shows a group of people sitting on the grass in a park and having a picnic. Bushes can be seen in the background and the sun is shining.
Campus Life International affairs

Share concerns, solve problems, find friends

The University does many things to make settling in easier for international students in Oldenburg. Intercultural facilitators listen to their…

more: Share concerns, solve problems, find friends
Presse & Kommunikation (Changed: 13 Jun 2025)  Kurz-URL:Shortlink: https://uol.de/p82n6771en
Zum Seitananfang scrollen Scroll to the top of the page