The Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) was established by an Act of Parliament in 2011 as Botswana’s first specialised university dedicated to science, engineering, and technology. Located in Palapye, Botswana, the university was created to support the country’s transition towards a knowledge-based economy by producing highly skilled graduates, advancing scientific research, and fostering technological innovation. Since its establishment, BIUST has become a key contributor to Botswana’s national development strategy through education, research, and collaboration with industry and government.

BIUST was founded with the vision of becoming a world-class institution of higher learning specialising in science, engineering, technology, and innovation. The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across engineering, science, information and communication technology, earth sciences, and related disciplines. Through a strong emphasis on research-led teaching and interdisciplinary collaboration, BIUST seeks to address regional and global challenges while contributing to sustainable economic growth throughout Botswana and the Southern African region.

The university has developed modern teaching, laboratory, and research facilities that support both academic excellence and industrial collaboration. BIUST actively promotes partnerships with local industries, government agencies, international universities, and research organisations to strengthen innovation capacity and facilitate technology transfer. These collaborations enable students and researchers to work on practical engineering and scientific challenges with direct societal and industrial impact.

Within the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, BIUST has established research groups and specialised laboratories focused on advanced manufacturing, materials engineering, mechanical engineering, automation, renewable energy, and industrial systems. These facilities support cutting-edge research while providing opportunities for postgraduate training and industry-focused innovation. The university continues to invest in advanced technologies that enhance manufacturing capabilities and contribute to the development of engineering expertise within Botswana.

BIUST is committed to advancing research, entrepreneurship, and innovation through multidisciplinary projects that address national priorities such as industrialisation, sustainable resource utilisation, energy security, and infrastructure development. By nurturing highly skilled scientists, engineers, and innovators, the university plays an important role in supporting Botswana’s Vision 2036 and strengthening the country’s competitiveness in science and technology.

As a leading science and technology institution in the region, BIUST continues to expand its international partnerships and research collaborations, providing a platform for knowledge exchange, technology development, and capacity building across Africa and beyond. Through its emphasis on research excellence, innovation, and industry engagement, the university is helping to develop the next generation of engineers and scientists capable of addressing the technological challenges of the future.

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) opened on 1 January 2005, the result of the merging of the PE Technikon the University of Port Elizabeth (UPE) and the Port Elizabeth campus of Vista University (Vista PE). The PE Technikon has its roots in the country’s oldest art school, the PE Art School founded in 1882; the University of Port Elizabeth (UPE), the country’s first dual-medium residential university, came into being on 31 January 1964; and the Port Elizabeth campus of Vista university, which opened up access to higher education for disadvantaged students. The union of these institutions came about because of government’s countrywide restructuring of higher education – intended to deliver a more equitable and efficient system to meet the needs of South Africa, the continent and the world in the 21st century.

On 20 July 2017, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University was officially renamed Nelson Mandela University: the only higher education institution in the world to carry the name of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. The name change provided an opportunity for the institution to rebrand and position itself continentally and globally, while also allowing it to usher in a new era of renewed vigour towards meaningful transformation. Nelson Mandela University is today a sought-after educational destination and the most diverse university in South Africa.

Mandela believed that education was a force of good and called on all South Africans to treasure knowledge and never stop learning. He valued diversity – especially the coming together of different minds, different backgrounds, different talents and different approaches to achieve greatness. He also made it clear that his contribution was just the beginning; calling on students, academics, and universities to forge new paths, and bring about new cycles of economic innovation, democratic change and equality.

We embrace Mandela’s challenge and honour his name by leading our university into an era of transformative innovation, development and change. As an innovative 21st century institution of higher learning, we are taking responsibility for his legacy and ensuring that it is reflected in the way that we teach, learn, research, engage with our communities. and work and live as students, staff, alumni and partners. Nelson Mandela dedicated his life to improving society and changing the world for the better and as the university that uniquely carries his name, we are confident that we can do justice to his legacy.

eNtsa is acknowledged internationally as an innovation hub that supports research, design and technology assimilation for the broader manufacturing sector, with a focus on the automotive, power generation and petrochemical industries. eNtsa, a registered engagement institute of Nelson Mandela University, hosts a number of programmes and projects to advance engineering support for technology and human resource development within South Africa. eNtsa contributes to industry with a vast range of specialised services which are aimed to support and stimulate local innovation through supplier development initiatives. eNtsa is able to make much needed engineering skills, services and training more readily available to SMEs operating in the local manufacturing and automotive sector through our Technology Station Programme (TSP), supported by the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA).

eNtsa is the executing partner and project management partner within the Nelson Mandela University for the SME2KE project.

The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits University) was formally established in 1922, making it one of South Africa’s oldest and most prestigious universities. Its origins can be traced to the South African School of Mines, founded in Kimberley in 1896 during the Witwatersrand gold rush. The institution later relocated to Johannesburg and evolved through several stages before becoming the University of the Witwatersrand. Throughout its history, Wits has played a significant role in advancing higher education, research excellence, and social transformation in South Africa. During the apartheid era, the university became known for defending academic freedom and promoting access to education irrespective of race, establishing a legacy that continues to shape its identity today.

Located in Johannesburg, the economic hub of South Africa and one of the largest cities on the African continent, Wits has developed into a globally recognised research-intensive university. The institution comprises five faculties: Commerce, Law and Management; Engineering and the Built Environment; Health Sciences; Humanities; and Science. Wits consistently ranks among the leading universities in Africa and is internationally recognised for its contributions to research, innovation, and postgraduate education. The university’s vision is centred on generating knowledge that contributes to societal development while addressing local, national, and global challenges.

The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) at Wits is widely recognised for producing highly skilled engineering graduates and conducting impactful research across multiple disciplines. Through strong partnerships with industry, government, and international collaborators, the faculty contributes to technological advancement and economic development in South Africa. Research activities span traditional engineering disciplines as well as emerging fields such as advanced manufacturing, digital technologies, energy systems, and materials engineering.

The Wits Additive Manufacturing Laboratory (Wits AM Lab) forms part of the School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering and serves as a leading research and development facility for additive manufacturing technologies. The laboratory supports research, education, and industrial collaboration in advanced manufacturing processes, including metal and polymer additive manufacturing. The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for powder bed fusion, materials characterisation, process optimisation, and product development, enabling researchers and industry partners to investigate innovative manufacturing solutions.

The laboratory actively supports South African industry through applied research, technology development, postgraduate training, and specialist testing services. Areas of focus include aerospace, mining, medical devices, energy, tooling, and advanced engineering applications. By fostering collaboration between academia and industry, the Wits AM Lab contributes to the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies and the growth of advanced manufacturing capabilities within South Africa.

As a centre for innovation and skills development, the Wits AM Lab is committed to developing the next generation of engineers, researchers, and manufacturing specialists. Through postgraduate research projects, industry partnerships, and specialised training programmes, the laboratory plays an important role in strengthening South Africa’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem and supporting the country’s transition towards knowledge-based industrial growth.