The University of Zululand (UNIZULU) recently concluded a highly successful 40-day residency with visiting Fulbright Specialist, Professor Jesse Lutabingwa. Sponsored by the United States (US) Department of State and administered by World Learning in Washington, D.C., the initiative stemmed from a formal request by UNIZULU, supported by the US Consulate in Durban, to advance the institution’s strategic goals in research capacity, grant writing and global internationalisation.
Prof Lutabingwa, who serves as Professor of Public Administration at Appalachian State University (App State) in North Carolina, US, is highly experienced, with decades of leadership in higher education, research development and international education. His visit further solidified a longstanding institutional partnership, rooted in a Memorandum of Understanding between App State and UNIZULU that Prof Lutabingwa helped establish in 2009.
Aligning Global Strategy and Institutional Priorities
The central focus of the visit was supporting UNIZULU’s International Office and institutional leadership in refining its global engagement trajectory. Zenzele Mdletshe, Manager: International Office highlighted, “The reason behind his visit was to support the International Office in operationalising its internationalisation strategy and realign the portfolios towards the core pillars of the University. Secondly, to support our postgraduate students in their research proposals and, lastly to enhance grant writing skills of our academics.”
Through strategic discussions with faculty champions, the Research and Innovation Office as well as University leadership, the engagement yielded immediate, tangible results. “Through his intervention, the International Office has produced a strategic plan for 2028–2033. We now have a solid base to work on,” Mdletshe added, noting that the plan positions UNIZULU as “a node for African thought and a globally engaged University while remaining responsive to local needs”.
Fostering Academic and Research Excellence
Throughout his residency, Prof Lutabingwa actively engaged staff and students across faculties:
Postgraduate Mentorship: Facilitated three university-wide workshops for postgraduate students focused on research proposal development, academic publishing and research design.
Faculty Capacity Building: Led grant-writing and proposal development workshops for academic staff to enhance competitive applications for external funding.
Public Administration Lecture: Delivered a guest lecture entitled “Revisiting the Doctrine of Trias Politica: A Comparative Analysis of the United States and South Africa,” exploring comparative governance structures for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Curricular Engagement: Contributed to International Education Week and participated in a three-day workshop on African pedagogies and decolonising the curriculum.
Reflecting on his interactions, Prof Lutabingwa remarked: “One of the most significant highlights has been the opportunity to engage with the International Office and faculty
representatives on global engagement priorities. The level of interest, participation and intellectual curiosity displayed by postgraduate students was truly impressive.”
Sustaining Momentum and Future Outlook
Feedback across the UNIZULU campus community has been overwhelmingly positive. “Students who participated in the research sessions are already requesting him to return for a longer period and the Research Office is currently exploring that possibility,” noted Mdletshe.
Looking ahead, both institutions aim to leverage the visit’s momentum. Proposed next steps include annual research proposal workshops, co-supervision of master’s and doctoral candidates in public administration, joint research projects and expanded virtual and physical exchanges for students and faculty.
Leaving campus with high praise for UNIZULU’s vision, Prof Lutabingwa emphasised that internationalisation must serve local impact: “Global engagement and local relevance must go hand in hand. The ultimate goal is to prepare graduates who can effectively address local challenges while contributing to a globally interconnected world.”
-Pictures: Samkele Sokhela
