Successful mobility exchange between SLU and the Nelson Mandela University in South Africa

Building on the momentum generated by the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two universities in 2023, one PhD student, Thembani Mkhize, and one Master student, Aphiwe Sandi, from NMU had the opportunity to spend 3 months each during 2024 and 2025 at SLU Aqua to complete parts of their thesis work. They were hosted by SLU researcher Charlotte Berkström.  Thembani and Aphiwe investigated juvenile fish and nursery habitats in South Africa and how these are connected to other habitats within coastal seascapes.

– Since I visited the Nelson Mandela University in January 2024 and initiated our collaboration, I have been eager to show and share the resources we have available to facilitate our joint research, says Charlotte Berkström.

Thembani spent many days in the SLU Aqua Bio Lab in Öregrund preparing ear bones (otoliths) of fish for chemical analysis in collaboration with SLU researcher Yvette Heimbrand. His research will answer questions on connectivity and how fish move between inshore and offshore areas. Aphiwe spent time in the Uppsala Lab at campus Ultuna in collaboration with SLU researcher Maria Eggertsen. Aphiwe was preparing fish tissue samples for stable isotope analyses and exploring weight/length and body shape of juvenile fish to answer questions on condition of fish and how well different seascape habitats provide food for these species.

To finish off the exchange, the South African supervisors, Nikki James and Gavin Rishworth, visited SLU Aqua in the spring of 2025. They presented  their ongoing work during a seminar, met with researchers at SLU Aqua and got a tour of the available resources at the department.

– It has been particularly rewarding to be able to offer an inspiring and enriching experience to students who had never travelled abroad before. My goal has been to open doors to an international network of researchers and give the students an opportunity to work in laboratories with high-level technical expertise in their area of interest, Charlotte concludes.

Charlotte is co-supervising Thembani and Aphiwe and is currently exploring opportunities to apply for joint research applications with NMU researchers to continue and broaden the successful collaboration.