The Copperbelt University (CBU), in partnership with Mendelu University of the Czech Republic, has held a workshop in Kitwe aimed at strengthening international relations.
The workshop focused on improving the enrolment and retention of international students, coordinating international visits, and enhancing communication with partner universities.
Speaking at the event, Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Bernard Hang’ombe said the collaboration between CBU and Mendelu University was already yielding tangible benefits. These include student and staff mobility, curriculum development, acquisition of laboratory equipment, and collaborative research. He further emphasized the need for greater coordination to ensure that international opportunities are fully harnessed.
And Mendelu University Vice Dean for International Relations Prof. Valerie Vranova, outlined the institution’s internationalization strategies, which include attracting students globally, strengthening academic mobility, and supporting foreign staff and students.
Meanwhile, CBU External Relations Officer, Olivia Chisha, presented CBU’s efforts to raise its international profile through improved branding, global rankings, and active partnerships with 56 universities and organizations across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
The workshop provided a platform for both institutions to exchange best practices and reflect on strategies for building a truly international university.
Mendelu University, based in Brno, Czech Republic, is one of Europe’s leading institutions in agriculture, forestry, environmental sciences, and economics, with a strong tradition of international partnerships across 90 countries.
The Copperbelt University, Zambia’s second-largest public university, is a centre of academic excellence with a bold vision of being among Africa’s top 20 institutions by 2050, offering programmes in business, science, engineering, natural resources, medicine, and the arts.