The University of Venda (UNIVEN)’s Green Technology Confucius Institute (GTCI) welcomed three Green Technology Specialists from Hubei University of Technology (HBUT), China, for a week-long go to from 04 to 10 November 2025. The go to was for the aim of strengthening educational and analysis collaborations in sustainable and environmentally pleasant applied sciences.
The visiting delegation comprised Prof Lyu Qinghua, Associate Professor within the School of Science and the School of Chip at HBUT; Prof Hu Xinyu, Vice Dean of the Hubei Agricultural Machinery Engineering Research and Design Institute; and Prof Tian Shuangshuang, Associate Professor within the School of Electrical Engineering at HBUT.
A particular stakeholder engagement session was held at UNIVEN Senate Chambers on 4 November 2025 the place the three professors offered their modern analysis in varied areas of inexperienced expertise. The occasion was facilitated by Co-Directors of GTCI Prof Eric Maluta and Prof Grace Ge. Dr Mutshinyalo Ratombo, Director within the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal delivered opening remarks on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal. He welcomed the delegation from Hubei University of Technology, highlighting the go to as a major milestone in strengthening the partnership between the 2 establishments.
On photograph: Co-Directors of GTCI Prof Eric Maluta and Prof Grace Ge
Dr Mutshinyalo Ratombo mirrored on the Memorandum of Understanding signed in August 2023 and the following launch of the Green Confucius Institute in December the identical yr, noting that this gathering was a direct consequence of that collaboration. He additional expressed appreciation for the presence of distinguished students from Hubei University and emphasised the significance of continued educational and cultural alternate.
On photograph: Dr Mutshinyalo Ratombo, Director within the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal
He additional underscored two urgent challenges in South Africa, sustainable power and meals safety, and referred to as for joint analysis efforts to handle them. Dr Ratombo famous that UNIVEN is already advancing an agro-processing hub to assist meals safety initiatives and expressed optimism that the collaboration would generate modern options for renewable power and agricultural improvement.
The Workshop additionally featured a vibrant cultural efficiency by UNIVEN’s Art and Culture group. Their energetic drumming, sleek choreography, and vibrant conventional apparel captivated the viewers, offering the visiting delegation with an genuine style of South African cultural her-itage.
The first presentation, delivered by Pro Lyu Qinghua, was titled “A Novel Photovoltaic Ecological Agriculture.” In his presentation, Prof Lyu highlighted the combination of photovoltaic expertise into trendy agriculture to reinforce power effectivity and promote ecological farming practices.
On photograph: Professor Lyu Qinghua
The second presentation, “Develop Characteristics of Smart Agricultural Machinery: Opportu-nities for Agricultural Development,” was offered by Prof Hu Xinyu. He shared insights on clever agricultural equipment and the way improvements in mechanisation can drive agricultural productiveness and sustainability, notably in growing areas akin to Southern Africa.
On photograph: Professor HU Xinyu
Prof Tian Shuangshuang offered on “Online Monitoring of Electrical Equipment and New Elec-trical Materials.” Her speak explored superior monitoring techniques and new materials developments that enhance electrical effectivity and reliability in inexperienced power techniques.
On photograph: Professor TIAN Shuangshuang
The interactive question-and-answer periods after every presentation allowed UNIVEN academ-ics, college students, and trade stakeholders to have interaction instantly with the visiting students, fostering data alternate and exploring alternatives for future analysis collaboration.
The interplay between the three professors and the viewers
Prof Michael Chimonyo, Research Professor within the school of Science, Engineering and Agricul-ture, delivered the acknowledgements and shutting remarks, expressing gratitude to the visiting delegation for sharing their experience and strengthening the partnership between UNIVEN and HBUT. He thanked the delegates for his or her useful contributions. He additionally emphasised the fac-ulty’s dedication to innovation and collaboration, noting that expertise needs to be seen not as a risk to employment however as a instrument to create cleaner, safer, and extra numerous job oppor-tunities. Drawing from his agricultural background, he highlighted aquaculture as a key space for future development and inspired continued partnerships and studying to drive sustainable improvement.
On photograph: Prof Michael Chimonyo, Prof HU Xinyu and Prof Lutendo Murulana, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture
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GTCI additionally organised a gathering between three HBUT delegates and officers from the Vhembe Municipality and the Agricultural Department of Limpopo Province to debate the chance of collaboration with the municipal authorities to additional profit the local people.
On photograph: Professors with officers from Vhembe Municipality and Department of Agriculture within the Limpopo Province
This Green Technology Specialist engagement varieties half of the broader efforts by the Green Technology Confucius Institute at UNIVEN to reinforce cooperation in analysis, innovation, and expertise switch between South Africa and China, selling sustainable options that ad-dress international environmental challenges.
GTCI plans to proceed inviting delegation of inexperienced expertise specialists to UNIVEN. Through actions akin to themed lectures and workshops, educational seminars, analysis symposiums and communication with enterprises, GTCI will function the platform for the specialists to share China’s superior expertise and experience within the area of inexperienced expertise, promote in-depth dialogue between students from the 2 universities, discover future alternatives for scientific analysis collaboration and university-enterprise cooperation.
This will additional improve the visibility and affect of the Green Technology Confucius Institute and its accomplice universities, additional contributing data and experience to the inexperienced develop-ment and transformation of the University of Venda and South Africa.
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