University of Illinois Staff and Students Visit UKZN

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A group of staff and students from the University of Illinois in the United States spent four weeks at UKZN as part of a project-based study abroad programme which involved them collaborating on final year design projects of the University’s Bioresources Engineering students.

This is the seventh annual visit to UKZN by representatives of the University of Illinois whose Professor Alan Hansen is a former academic and Head of what was then the Department of Agricultural Engineering at UKZN.

This year’s group of three students, led by Professor Paul Davidson of the University of Illinois’ College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, are all busy with studies in Agricultural and Biological Engineering in the United States. This trip during their summer vacation provided an opportunity for them to contribute their knowledge to UKZN students’ final year design projects, while being exposed to a different culture and environment.

‘I was able to contribute some of my knowledge of technical skills like welding,’ said Illinois University student, Mr Patrick Schroeder.

The American group visited the Drakensberg and the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park during their stay.

Davidson said that they looked forward to future visits to UKZN.

  Christine Cuénod