Partners
Participants will include representatives of Montanuniversität Leoben, the University of the Witwatersrand, AfriSMAT, EURECA-PRO, and other African and European universities and research institutions. The delegation will be complemented by representatives from the Austrian and South African ministry, industry, and nongovernmental organisations.
Montanuniversität Leoben
(University of Leoben)
The Montanuniversität Leoben (University of Leoben) is a technical university and Austria’s only university specialising in mining and metallurgy. Its academic programmes are closely aligned with the entire value chain, ranging from raw materials and materials development to finished products and subsequent recycling. This comprehensive approach is complemented by interdisciplinary
programmes such as Industrial Environmental Protection and Process Engineering and Industrial Logistics, reflecting the university’s strong focus on sustainability, resource efficiency, and innovative technologies.
Montanuniversität Leoben offers 13 bachelor’s and 27 master’s programmes and has approximately 3,000 students from 89 nations, supported by a strong international network of around 200 partner universities worldwide. Its close connection to industry and research enables practice-oriented education, interdisciplinary research, and the development of innovative solutions to current technological, environmental, and societal challenges.
University of the Witwatersrand
(Wits University)
The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University) is a leading research-intensive university in South Africa, renowned for its academic excellence, research and innovation, and commitment to social justice. Located in Johannesburg, the economic hub of the African continent, Wits has been closely connected to the development of the city for more than 100 years.
Wits operates across seven campuses and a range of specialised facilities, including a digital innovation precinct, Rural Campus, Sterkfontein Caves, Pullen Farm, museums, galleries, and a digital dome. It is also the only university to own a private hospital, the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre. Ranked among the top 1% of universities worldwide, Wits is internationally recognised for excellence in
health sciences, humanities, business, engineering, mining research, and scientific innovation.
European University on Responsible Consumption and Production
(EURECA-PRO)
The European University on Responsible Consumption and Production (EURECA-PRO) is part of the European Universities Initiative and is dedicated to advancing United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12): Responsible Consumption and Production. EURECA-PRO brings together nine partner universities from eight European countries, creating a strong transnational network for collaboration, innovation, and excellence in higher education. The alliance connects professionals, students, and educators across Europe, providing opportunities to exchange knowledge, engage in cutting-edge research, and develop innovative solutions that contribute to sustainable and transformative change.
The European Universities alliances are a flagship initiative of the European strategy for universities. They currently encompass 73 European Universities alliances, bringing together almost 650 higher education institutions of all types from across Europe. These alliances strengthen cooperation among European universities, promote mobility and knowledge exchange, and contribute to a more connected, innovative, inclusive, and sustainable European higher education landscape.
African School of Materials
(AfriSMAT)
The African School of Materials (AfriSMAT) is a pan-African initiative dedicated to advancing materials science, sustainable industrialisation, and technological innovation across the continent. It brings together education, research, and industry collaboration to empower the next generation of scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to develop solutions in advanced materials, green manufacturing, and circular economies.
Through strategic partnerships across Africa and with international institutions, AfriSMAT promotes knowledge exchange, skills development, research, and innovation, with the ambition of positioning Africa as a global leader in sustainable materials science and technology-driven industrial development.