Strengthening knowledge partnerships: Minister Manamela deepens SA–Ireland cooperation in education, science, and innovation
The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mr Buti Manamela, has returned to South Africa following a highly productive visit to Ireland as part of the delegation accompanying President Cyril Ramaphosa. The visit deepened bilateral cooperation between South Africa and Ireland, particularly in higher education, skills development, science, and innovation.
Building Innovation Bridges
On the eve of the official visit, Minister Manamela—together with the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ronald Lamola—visited Dogpatch Labs, one of Ireland’s leading innovation and start-up hubs. The engagement highlighted the Irish Tech Challenge South Africa, a partnership driven by the Embassy of Ireland that identifies and supports high-potential South African tech entrepreneurs aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“This initiative demonstrates how collaboration in technology and innovation can empower young African innovators and advance our shared commitment to inclusive development,” said Minister Manamela.
Ministerial Dialogue: Deepening Cooperation
Minister Manamela held a bilateral meeting with Ireland’s Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Minister Niall Lawless, focusing on expanding collaboration in:
- STEM teaching and research,
- Lecturer development and exchange programmes,
- Joint academic initiatives on Ireland’s role during the anti-apartheid movement, and
- The development of a Memorandum of Intent to formalise cooperation in higher education, innovation, and research.
The two Ministers also discussed Ireland’s participation in the upcoming G20 Education Working Group, which South Africa will host in Mpumalanga next week.
As part of the broader engagement with the President’s business roundtable, Minister Manamela also explored opportunities for Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) and skills-to-work transition programmes with Irish companies based in South Africa, several of which operate in the manufacturing, agro-processing, and high-technology sectors.
Academic Collaboration and Shared Legacy
While in Dublin, Minister Manamela engaged with a group of over 20 academics and researchers at Trinity College Dublin, where Professor Kader Asmal once taught law before returning to South Africa to serve as Minister of Education.
The discussions explored further cooperation between Trinity and South African universities such as UJ, Wits, UWC, and Sefako Makgatho University in areas including immunology, creative arts, economics, and history. Both sides agreed to build on existing collaborations and design joint research and postgraduate supervision programmes that reflect the enduring intellectual and moral ties between the two nations.
Expanding Opportunities: The Kader Asmal Fellowship
The visit also opened discussions on expanding the Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme, which has already supported over 130 South African graduates to pursue postgraduate studies in Ireland since its establishment in 2013.
“This partnership goes beyond symbolism. It embodies the spirit of solidarity that Ireland extended during the anti-apartheid struggle, now renewed through shared investment in science, technology, and education,” said Minister Manamela.
Minister Manamela described the visit as “an important step in aligning South Africa and Ireland’s education and innovation ecosystems towards shared global goals.”
Minister added:
“We are building a bridge between our histories of solidarity and our futures of shared innovation. The work ahead, through the proposed Memorandum of Intent will deepen cooperation in science, technology, innovation, and human development for the mutual benefit of both our nations.”
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