About Us

Founded in 2024, the Stellenbosch University and Northwestern University Global Health Knowledge Hub arose out of a two-decade long partnership between the two universities, and a mutual desire for continued growth in our bi-directional partnership. 

The SU-NU Global Health Knowledge Hub supports collaborative activities in the areas of education, research, and community engagement. At Northwestern University, the primary partners are the Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health, the Center for Innovation and Global Health Technologies, the Vice President for International Affairs and the Global Learning Office. At Stellenbosch University, the primary partners are SU International, the Faculty of Engineering, and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Steering Committee

The SU-NU Global Health Knowledge Hub is governed by a Steering Committee made up of senior members of Stellenbosch University and Northwestern University leadership. The members are:

Stellenbosch University

  • Prof Hester Klopper, Deputy-Vice Chancellor: Strategy, Global and Corporate Affairs 
  • Vice-Dean: Research and Industry Liaison, Faculty of Engineering
  • Robert Kotze, Senior Director: SU International
  • Vice-Dean: Research and Internationalisation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
  • Prof Kanshu Rajaratnam, Director of the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking

Northwestern University

  • Prof Deborah Cohen, Executive Director, Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs
  • Prof Matt Glucksberg, Co-Director, IGH/Engineering Center for Global Health Technology
  • Prof Devora Grynspan, Vice President for International Relations (invited)
  • Prof Robert Havey, Deputy Director, Robert J. Havey Institute for Global Health
  • Prof Robert Murphy, Executive Director, Robert J. Havey Institute for Global Health


Global Health Hub Locations

Faculty of Engineering, Stellenbosch University

Serves as a dry lab for faculty and trainees.

Saxonhof House, Academia Complex

Serves as the primary location for the Global Health Hub with housing and collaboration spaces for faculty, staff, and students.

Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health

Serves as a dry lab for faculty and trainees

Center for Innovation in Global Health Technologies

Serves as a “maker space” for biomedical engineering faculty and trainees.