TUT Crop Sciences lecturer wins prestigious 2026 Taiwan Fellowship
Academics
3 February 2026
Dr Reinette Gouws-Meyer, TUT Crop Sciences lecturer, has won the competitive Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fellowship for 2026, recognising excellence in agricultural higher education research.
Dr Reinette Gouws-Meyer
Awarded by the Government of Taiwan, the international fellowship supports outstanding scholars worldwide and funds advanced research based in Taiwan. Dr Gouws-Meyer from the Faculty of Science at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) will take up the fellowship in January 2026 for six months and return to South Africa in July 2026.
During her stay, she will conduct a comparative research project titled Curriculum Innovation in Agricultural Higher Education: A Taiwan–South Africa Comparative Study. The study will explore how agricultural curricula in both countries respond to climate change, sustainability demands and rapid technological advancement.
Taiwan’s technology-integrated agricultural education system offers a valuable comparison for South Africa, where curriculum reform must also address transformation and socio-political realities. Using document analysis, stakeholder interviews and field observations, the research aims to produce globally informed and locally relevant insights.
The fellowship is expected to benefit TUT through stronger international research collaboration, enhanced curriculum development and increased global academic visibility. Findings will inform curriculum renewal, support the integration of indigenous knowledge systems and create opportunities for joint publications as well as academic exchanges with Taiwanese institutions.
The award aligns with TUT’s Institutional Strategic Plan 2026–2035, particularly its focus on internationalisation, sustainability and responsive curricula that address real-world challenges.
Dr Gouws-Meyer holds a PhD in Plant Pathology from Stellenbosch University and a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Pretoria. Her selection reflects her academic standing and TUT’s growing presence in the global research landscape.