The UNIVEN GTCI Hosts Three Green Technology Specialists from Hubei University of Technology

The University of Venda (UNIVEN)’s Green Technology Confucius Institute (GTCI) welcomed three Green Technology Specialists from Hubei University of Technology (HBUT), China, for a week-long visit from 04 to 10 November 2025. The visit was for the purpose of strengthening academic and research collaborations in sustainable and environmentally friendly technologies.

The visiting delegation comprised Prof Lyu Qinghua, Associate Professor in the School of Science and the School of Chip at HBUT; Prof Hu Xinyu, Vice Dean of the Hubei Agricultural Machinery Engineering Research and Design Institute; and Prof Tian Shuangshuang, Associate Professor in the School of Electrical Engineering at HBUT.

A special stakeholder engagement session was held at UNIVEN Senate Chambers on 4 November 2025 where the three professors presented their innovative research in various areas of green technology. The event was facilitated by Co-Directors of GTCI Prof Eric Maluta and Prof Grace Ge. Dr Mutshinyalo Ratombo, Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal delivered opening remarks on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal. He welcomed the delegation from Hubei University of Technology, highlighting the visit as a significant milestone in strengthening the partnership between the two institutions.

Dr Mutshinyalo Ratombo reflected on the Memorandum of Understanding signed in August 2023 and the subsequent launch of the Green Confucius Institute in December the same year, noting that this gathering was a direct outcome of that collaboration. He further expressed appreciation for the presence of distinguished scholars from Hubei University and emphasised the importance of continued academic and cultural exchange.

He further underscored two pressing challenges in South Africa, sustainable energy and food security, and called for joint research efforts to address them. Dr Ratombo noted that UNIVEN is already advancing an agro-processing hub to support food security initiatives and expressed optimism that the collaboration would generate innovative solutions for renewable energy and agricultural development.

The Workshop also featured a vibrant cultural performance by UNIVEN’s Art and Culture group. Their energetic drumming, graceful choreography, and colourful traditional attire captivated the audience, providing the visiting delegation with an authentic taste of South African cultural her-itage.

The first presentation, delivered by Pro Lyu Qinghua, was titled “A Novel Photovoltaic Ecological Agriculture.” In his presentation, Prof Lyu highlighted the integration of photovoltaic technology into modern agriculture to enhance energy efficiency and promote ecological farming practices.

The second presentation, “Develop Characteristics of Smart Agricultural Machinery: Opportu-nities for Agricultural Development,” was presented by Prof Hu Xinyu. He shared insights on intelligent agricultural machinery and how innovations in mechanisation can drive agricultural productivity and sustainability, particularly in developing regions such as Southern Africa.

Prof Tian Shuangshuang presented on “Online Monitoring of Electrical Equipment and New Elec-trical Materials.” Her talk explored advanced monitoring systems and new material developments that improve electrical efficiency and reliability in green energy systems.

The interactive question-and-answer sessions after each presentation allowed UNIVEN academ-ics, students, and industry stakeholders to engage directly with the visiting scholars, fostering knowledge exchange and exploring opportunities for future research collaboration.

Prof Michael Chimonyo, Research Professor in the faculty of Science, Engineering and Agricul-ture, delivered the acknowledgements and closing remarks, expressing gratitude to the visiting delegation for sharing their expertise and strengthening the partnership between UNIVEN and HBUT. He thanked the delegates for their valuable contributions. He also emphasised the fac-ulty’s commitment to innovation and collaboration, noting that technology should be seen not as a threat to employment but as a tool to create cleaner, safer, and more diverse job oppor-tunities. Drawing from his agricultural background, he highlighted aquaculture as a key area for future growth and encouraged continued partnerships and learning to drive sustainable development.

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GTCI also organised a meeting between three HBUT delegates and officials from the Vhembe Municipality and the Agricultural Department of Limpopo Province to discuss the possibility of collaboration with the municipal government to further benefit the local community.

This Green Technology Specialist engagement forms part of the broader efforts by the Green Technology Confucius Institute at UNIVEN to enhance cooperation in research, innovation, and technology transfer between South Africa and China, promoting sustainable solutions that ad-dress global environmental challenges.

GTCI plans to continue inviting delegation of green technology specialists to UNIVEN. Through activities such as themed lectures and workshops, academic seminars, research symposiums and communication with enterprises, GTCI will serve as the platform for the specialists to share China’s advanced experience and expertise in the field of green technology, promote in-depth dialogue between scholars from the two universities, explore future opportunities for scientific research collaboration and university-enterprise cooperation.

This will further enhance the visibility and influence of the Green Technology Confucius Institute and its partner universities, further contributing knowledge and expertise to the green develop-ment and transformation of the University of Venda and South Africa.
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