On 3 December 2025, the EU-China Higher Education Research Center of VUB co-organised the LEAD Academic Network meeting at Stellenbosch University, bringing together scholars and researchers from eight universities across Europe, Africa and China. Prof. Dr M.L. Botha and Prof. Peter Rule opened the session with an introduction to the history of Stellenbosch University, followed by a brief overview of the Faculty of Education and the Centre for Higher and Adult Education.
Afterwards, Prof. Chang Zhu presented the work of the EU–China Higher Education Research Center of VUB and the LEAD Academic Network, outlining ongoing collaborations and future work plan and cooperation with partners. The meeting concluded with lively discussions on the current landscape of teacher education in Africa and the crucial role of international cooperation in supporting educational innovation and academic development.
The visit formed part of ECHE’s continuing efforts to promote academic leadership and meaningful exchanges worldwide, fostering dialogue across regions and disciplines to better understand how universities can respond to global challenges together.
