The Alliance of Guangzhou International Sister-City Universities is exited to welcome Stellenbosch University as our first affiliate member. Affiliate membership, unanimously approved during our recent annual council meeting, is open to universities and associations in non-sister cities of Guangzhou which have made substantial contributions in the fields of international collaboration and urban sustainability.

The history of Stellenbosch University dates as far back as the 17th century and enrolls approximately 32,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students. Faculties include AgriSciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Economic and Management Sciences, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine and Health Sciences, Military Science, Science, and Theology.

The vision and mission of Stellenbosch University, located in Cape Town, includes being Africa’s leading research-intensive university globally recognized as excellent, inclusive and innovative as it advances knowledge in service of society.

In the acceptance of Stellenbosch University as our first affiliate member, Guangzhou University President and Alliance Chair Wei Minghai shared “Stellenbosch University and the Alliance both have a strong commitment to internationalization and sustainable development. Our recent approval of affiliate membership status further expands the geographic reach and international impact of our Alliance and we are excited to welcome Stellenbosch University.”

Stellenbosch University connects the world through 120 internationalization activities, 33 of which are formal bilateral agreements, in more than 30 countries. The SDG/2063 Impact Hub at Stellenbosch University promotes the United Nation’ 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as the Africa Union’s Agenda 2063 and its Goals and Aspirations for The Africa We Want.

Professor Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University thanks Guangzhou University President and Alliance Chair Wei Minghai  and  the seven founding members of the Alliance of Guangzhou International Sister-City Universities which include Linkoping University, Guangzhou University, University of Coimbra, University of Padova, University of Quebec at Montreal, University of Tampere and Western Sydney University for voting for Stellenbosch University to become part of the GISU network.

Candidates for affiliate membership must be nominated by either a GISU member or the Secretariat Office and approved by an appointed membership committee of one representative from each of our seven founding members. Affiliate members enjoy the same benefits of members with the exception of voting rights. Should an affiliate member’s city become a sister-city of Guangzhou, they can be considered for full membership during annual Alliance meetings.

Stellenbosch University joins 19 members, representing 5 continents, 16 countries, a combined population of over 47 million people in 18 sister-cities, a combined student enrollment of over half a million, and a combined faculty and staff of almost 45,000.