The University of Mpumalanga (UMP) and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), in the USA, hosted a two-week UMES-UMP Students Exchange Programme for Experiential Learning at the Mbombela Campus.The programme took place from January 6 to 20.

The climax of the visit was a seminar presentation by the visiting students to provide a critical reflection on experience and skills acquired as a component of their learning experiences, which include cultural and social aspects.

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The exchange programme is part of a memorandum of understanding signed in 2023 by the two universities to focus on innovative agricultural research, students and staff exchange, sustainable business growth, and economic development.

Highlighting the partnership’s potential for long-term research collaboration, the deputy vice-chancellor, Prof Moses Mbewe, said: “The goal is to grow the collaboration into long-term research and ‘sandwich’ programmes that allow students to study across both institutions.”

The UMES assistant, Prof Abiodun Omotayo, emphasised the value of hands-on learning experiences in addressing real-world challenges.

Aseel Awad, a UMES student on a two-week experiential learning programme, praised this initiative for providing valuable insights into financial sustainability and farm management.

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Speaking about the collaboration, Prof Funso Kutu, head of the School of Agricultural Sciences, stated that the programme exemplifies the institutions’ mutual commitment to experiential learning and collaborative research.