GCTU has hosted an Associate Professor of Applied Management from the Durban University of Technology, Prof. Luther-King Jnr. Zogli, who visited the University on an academic partnership promotion activities on May 26, 2026 at Tesano Campus.
The Professor’s four-day visit was specifically aimed at strengthening academic collaboration and exploring research opportunities between the two institutions, in which he made seminar presentations to faculty, staff and students.
At an interaction with the GCTU Management, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ebenezer Malcalm, gave an overview of the University, including the programmes, student population, the faculties and schools, as well as the Institute of Continuing and Distance Education (ICDE). He further spoke about the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between GCTU and DUT and emphasized the importance of strengthening collaborations in research, academic exchange and institutional development.
Prof. Malcalm also provided the Deans of the various faculties the opportunity to present brief overviews of their faculties, ongoing academic programmes and research focus areas.
In his engagement with Management, Prof. Luther-King Jnr. Zogli, highlighted the unique strengths and ideas of both DUT and GCTU while exploring possible areas of collaboration between the two institutions. He emphasized the importance of academic partnerships, research collaboration and knowledge exchange in promoting institutional growth and innovation.
As part of the first-day activities marking Prof. Zogli’s visit, a seminar was held under the theme, “Entrepreneurship, SMME Development and Informal Economic Participation in Africa.”
In his opening remarks during the seminar, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, encouraged students to remain committed to their academic pursuits and aspire to attain the level of professorship in their respective fields. He further urged participants to pay close attention to the presentation, noting that the seminar was research-focused and would provide valuable academic and professional insights.
Delivering his presentation at the seminar, Prof. Zogli discussed Africa’s informal economy, noting that many African workers continue to lack access to formal social protection systems and sustainable economic opportunities.
Prof. Zogli further elaborated on the various schools of thought relating to the informal economy, including the dualist, legalist, structuralist and voluntarist schools. He also shared findings from various research works conducted in Ghana and Durban, providing participants with comparative insights into informal economic participation and entrepreneurship development.
He concluded by outlining areas that require change, as well as future research directions needed to strengthen policy development and support for the informal economy in Africa. He further invited faculty members and other interested participants to collaborate with his team in collecting data and undertaking meaningful research on entrepreneurship within the informal sector.
During Prof. Zogli’s visit, he engaged faculty and students at the Entrepreneurship Hub of the Business School, where he discussed collaborative research opportunities, focusing on entrepreneurship, youth livelihoods and the informal economy in Africa. The Acting Dean of the Business School, Prof. Theresa Obuobisa-Darko and some Heads of Departments hosted Prof. Zogli during his visit to the School.
In another development, Prof. Zogli also held an online session with postgraduate students and early career researchers on research
development, publishing and academic collaboration opportunities.
In a concluding session with Management, the Acting Vice-Chancellor expressed his appreciation on behalf of Management to Prof. Zogli for his decision to reignite a long-standing relationship with GCTU. He indicated, that it is under the existing MoU that some administrative and academic staff had benefited from academic development opportunities. He assured the guest that efforts would be made to renew the MoU with DUT soon. Prof. Malcalm also requested Prof. Zogli to consider organizing online seminars with faculty of GCTU.
Responding to the Acting VC’s submission, Prof. Zogli thanked Management and all officers who assisted in diverse ways to give him a warm reception and for him to engage with members of the University Community successfully.
