“VUT and Sasol are strengthening their partnership to advance research, innovation, sustainability, postgraduate development and industry-relevant skills that support economic growth and social impact.”
09 September 2026 | Story by: Nontobeko Moimane | Picture: Siphephelo Dlamini
4 minutes read time.
Strengthening collaboration between higher education and industry will be critical to developing future skills, advancing research and supporting South Africa’s transition to a more sustainable economy.
This emerged during a high-level engagement between the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) and Sasol on 2 September 2026, where the two institutions explored opportunities to deepen collaboration in research, innovation, postgraduate development and community impact.
The discussions focused on strategic areas including hydrogen technologies, carbon capture, staff and postgraduate development, infrastructure opportunities, short learning programmes and community-based initiatives.
Both organisations emphasised the need to move beyond individual projects towards a more coordinated partnership capable of generating long-term economic and social value.
VUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Khehla Ndlovu, said universities and industry must work more closely together to address emerging challenges and create opportunities for students and researchers.
“As VUT celebrates 60 years, we must continue building on our technical and engineering foundation while strengthening our ability to respond to the needs of industry and society. Partnerships such as this create opportunities for our staff, students and researchers to contribute meaningfully to the challenges of the future,” he said.
Sasol Senior Vice President for Research and Technology, Mr Andy Msiza, said the company’s evolving focus on sustainability and new technologies creates significant opportunities for collaboration with universities.
“Sasol is transforming as an organisation, and our future includes green technologies, renewable electricity, sustainable fuels, green chemicals and digital-enabled solutions. Partnerships with universities are critical because they connect industry challenges with research, innovation and postgraduate expertise,” he said.
Research and innovation emerged as key pillars of the partnership.
VUT Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, Commercialisation and Internationalisation, Prof Simphiwe Nelana, highlighted the University’s research capabilities and the role they can play in addressing real-world challenges.
“VUT has research capacity and expertise that can be aligned with industry needs. Our research centres provide platforms through which we can work with partners to address challenges in areas such as energy, climate change, automation, manufacturing and sustainable development,” he said.
The engagement highlighted opportunities for collaboration in hydrogen technologies, carbon capture and other sustainability-focused initiatives, creating potential benefits for both industry and academia while strengthening postgraduate research and innovation capacity.
Sasol Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs, Ms Grace Ndwambi, described the discussions as an opportunity to broaden engagement and identify areas of mutual benefit.
“We want to expand the conversation and explore how Sasol can engage more meaningfully in education, research and opportunities for students and staff. The objective is to identify areas of shared interest and build a partnership that delivers greater impact,” she said.
Skills development was identified as another important area of cooperation. Potential initiatives include staff development programmes, postgraduate support, research opportunities and short learning programmes aimed at strengthening specialist skills needed by industry and the broader economy.
According to both institutions, such initiatives can contribute to developing highly skilled graduates while helping organisations remain responsive to changing technological and economic demands.
VUT Executive Director for Marketing and Communications, Ms Yonela Tukwayo, said the engagement created a platform for honest discussions about shared priorities and opportunities.
“This was truly a meeting of minds. We were able to identify challenges and explore how collaboration can help address them. What is encouraging is that we are already identifying opportunities and practical ways of moving forward,” she said.
A key outcome of the engagement was the appointment of dedicated representatives to coordinate future collaboration. VUT has designated Prof Khaled Abou-El-Hossein, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, while Sasol has appointed Mr Willie Barkhuizen, Vice President: Group Talent Management and People Development.
The appointments are expected to strengthen coordination, improve communication and drive implementation of agreed initiatives.
The next phase of the partnership will focus on translating strategic discussions into practical projects across research, innovation, sustainability, skills development and community engagement.
The engagement reinforced a shared view that effective partnerships between universities and industry can play a significant role in developing future-ready skills, advancing innovation and contributing to national development.
As both organisations move towards implementation, the focus will be on ensuring that collaboration delivers measurable benefits not only for the two institutions, but also for the communities and industries they serve.