Blade Nzimande conferred Honorary Professorship by leading Chinese university, lauds science cooperation

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande has been conferred with the title of Honorary Professor by the South China University of Technology (SCUT), in recognition of his contribution to advancing international scientific cooperation.

The department congratulated Nzimande on the recognition, which was formally confirmed during a ceremony where the certificate of professorship was handed over by Chinese Ambassador to South Africa, Wu Peng.

“The South China University of Technology (SCUT) has conferred the title Honorary Professor on South Africa’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Blade Nzimande,” the department said.

The conferment was made in anticipation of Nzimande’s planned visit to the university later this year, highlighting growing academic and scientific ties between South Africa and China.

In accepting the honour, Nzimande described the recognition as a reflection of deepening bilateral cooperation in science and innovation.

“It is a profound honor for me to be recognised by one of the leading public research universities in the world,” Nzimande said.

“This honor is an affirmation of China and South Africa’s shared commitment to use science, technology, and innovation to build a more just and equal world. Most importantly, is a testament to the deep bond of friendship between the peoples of China and South Africa.”

SCUT, based in Guangdong Province, is a leading public research institution established in 1952 and internationally recognised for its strengths in engineering and applied sciences. It also integrates disciplines including medicine, business, and the humanities.

The university is ranked 166th in the US News Best Global Universities and sits within the top 400 globally across major rankings. It is particularly noted for its leadership in Food Science and Technology and Polymer Science.

According to the institution, five of its academic disciplines rank in the top 0.1% of the Essential Science Indicators (ESI) global rankings, including engineering, materials science, and chemistry.

The department noted that cooperation between South Africa and SCUT is being explored in areas such as biomass research and papermaking, with the university hosting China’s State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering.

This marks the second honorary professorship awarded to Nzimande by a Chinese university, following a similar honour from Beijing Jiaotong University in 2023.

“Under Minister Nzimande’s leadership, deeply strategic and mutually beneficial partnerships with the People’s Republic of China are concertedly being pursued,” the department said, including collaborations on joint research centres, scientist exchanges, and large-scale science projects such as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

Nzimande is one of South Africa’s longest-serving Members of Parliament and is currently serving his second term as Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation.

IOL. News