Dr. Valindawo Valile M. Dwayi (Ph.D.) currently serves as Senior Director of the Centre for Global Engagement at the Central University of Technology, South Africa, where he leads initiatives that strengthen international partnerships, research collaboration, institutional transformation, and global academic engagement. His work sits at the intersection of higher education, innovation ecosystems, governance, and international development. Valile is an internationally engaged higher education strategist, science diplomacy advocate, and academic leader who is helping shape conversations around global engagement, knowledge equity, and innovation-driven development in Africa.
Dr. Dwayi is widely recognized for his thought leadership on internationalisation, epistemic justice, and Africa’s place within global knowledge systems. He has consistently advocated for a model of collaboration that moves beyond dependency and positions African institutions as equal contributors to global research, innovation, and policy conversations.
His recent appointment to South Africa’s national Reference Group on the Internationalisation of Higher Education underscores his influence in shaping policies that promote equitable, socially responsive, and globally connected education systems. A passionate advocate for Africa-centred innovation and transformative partnerships, Dr. Dwayi champions the idea that sustainable solutions to Africa’s challenges must emerge from strong institutions, inclusive knowledge production, collaborative leadership, and investments in scientific capacity. His voice continues to inspire conversations on how African scholarship can drive both continental development and global impact.