Strengthening Global Academic Partnerships: Dr Fr John P. J’s Visit to the University of Johannesburg, South Africa

Dr Fr John P. J, Principal of The Bhopal School of Social Sciences (BSSS), is currently on an academic visit to the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, marking a significant step toward strengthening international collaboration in higher education. On 16 April, he delivered engaging and insightful sessions to Social Work Honours and Research students at the Department of Social Work and Community Development. During his address, he highlighted the impactful best practices of BSSS, including Dev Aaharam, BSSS-Rhythm, and the institute’s active involvement in the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) projects, emphasizing community engagement, social responsibility, and sustainable development.

The sessions witnessed enthusiastic participation from around 100 students, fostering meaningful academic exchange and cross-cultural learning. As part of his visit, Dr Fr John will also grace the oath-taking ceremony of second-year social work students as a special guest on 17 April, further strengthening institutional bonds.

A key highlight of this visit will be the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 17 April between BSSS and the University of Johannesburg. This partnership is expected to open new avenues for collaborative research, faculty and student exchanges, and jointly organized academic initiatives, reinforcing a shared commitment to excellence in social work education and practice.

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