FIRST NATIONS UNIVERSITY OF CANADA
FNUniv and University of Zululand sign historic Memorandum of Understanding

On September 5th, the First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) and the University of Zululand (UNIZULU) of South Africa signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), establishing a new partnership between the two universities. Collectively, through this MOU, FNUniv and UNIZULU seek to engage in international knowledge exchanges focused on Indigenous knowledge systems.

The MOU signing was the culmination of partnership and collaboration discussions that began earlier in 2025 at the "Indigenous Knowledge Systems & Restorative Development in Africa" International Conference, hosted by the Africa Indigenous Knowledge Research Network and held in Entebbe, Uganda, where FNUniv President Dr. Jacqueline Ottmann was invited to speak on FNUniv's unique position as Canada's only national Indigenous university.

"Indigenous knowledges, with their sophisticated ways of knowing, being, and doing, transcend continents," explains Dr. Jacqueline Ottmann, President of FNUniv. "Our relatives in South Africa carry their own rich Indigenous knowledges, and we look forward to working together to share, learn, and collectively advance decolonization and Indigenization on a global scale."

The two Universities share a common mission to provide the highest quality education for Indigenous Peoples and share a joint vision for enhancing the student experience by implementing international learning opportunities and knowledge exchanges based on their shared core value of delivering quality student-centric programs.

The Universities have agreed to explore opportunities for joint programmes promoting institutional development and academic enhancement, including faculty and student trainings, academic and cultural exchanges, scientific research, and joint publications.

"UNIZULU's Vision 2027, A Node of African Thought,' strategically resonates with FNUniv's position as an epicenter of Indigenous knowledges, ways of being, knowing, and doing. By foregrounding African epistemologies and ontologies across teaching and learning, research and innovation, and community engagement, UNIZULU reinforces FNUniv's commitment to sustaining and advancing Indigenous epistemologies," says Xoliswa Mtose, Vice Chancellor and Principal, UNIZULU. In pursuit of this shared vision, the two universities have committed to cultivating joint programmes that promote institutional development and academic enhancement encompassing faculty and student training, academic and cultural exchanges, collaborative scientific research, and co-authored publications.

FNUniv and UNIZULU have identified several key activities under this new MOU, including:

• Student exchanges for academic development in areas of study and research which both University's have in common;
• The exchange of publications for scholarly, teaching and information purposes;
• The exchange of academic staff for the purpose of research, teaching, and the presentation of special courses in their field of specialization;
• The development of joint academic programmes;
• Organizing conferences, seminars, symposia, and special academic programmes;
• The development of joint research activities geared towards youth entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihood through Indigenous languages; and
• The exchange of visiting scholars for short term and long-term lectureships.

The University of Zululand delegation, travelling from South Africa to First Nations University of Canada's Regina, Saskatchewan campus, included Professor X Mtose, Vice Chancellor and Principal, Professor KC Lehloenya, Dean, Faculty of Sciences, Agriculture and Engineering, Professor J Mashiya, Director of International Office, and Professor I Moyo, Deputy Dean, Research and Innovation, Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering. The visit included a morning pipe ceremony with Elder Dennis Omeasoo, tour of the Regina campus, faculty presentations, and a visit to the McKenzie Art Gallery.

In 2026, First Nations University of Canada will host the 2nd Annual Africa Indigenous Knowledge Research Network (AIKRN) Conference from June 16 to 18, 2026, at the Regina campus, in partnership with Carleton University.