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A vibrant partnership
[01.12.2025]Delegation from FernUniversität visits the University of South Africa (UNISA)
Led by the Vice President for Research, International Affairs, and Sustainability, Prof. Torsten Linß, together with Desirée Kampmeier from the International Office, Dr. Julia-Lena Reinermann traveled to UNISA in October 2025 with Prof. Eva Cendon, Prof. Uwe Elsholz, and Irina Haury from FernUniversität in Hagen. The aim of the trip was to initiate new research collaborations, expand existing collaborations, and conduct research.
Foto: FernUniversität HagenEnergy transition as a process of social transformation
Dr. Julia Reinermann, research assistant in the Department of Environmental Sciences, is investigating from a communication science perspective how the media portray the energy transition and how local participation can be shaped.
“The trip gave me important insights into the opportunities and challenges of the energy transition in South Africa. Fossil fuels still dominate, but the expansion of renewable energies is gaining momentum,” explained Julia Reinermann.
UNISA has been working on this topic for ten years and is setting its own priorities — for example, with a planned photovoltaic system on the Muckleneuk campus that is expected to generate around 4.9 million kilowatts of electricity annually.
Foto: Dr. Julia ReinermannNew collaborations
The trip has led to new collaborations. Together with Dr. Linah N. Masombuka from the Department of Communication Science at UNISA, Julia Reinermann plans to analyze communication processes that reveal material inequality and fossilized ways of thinking in a future project. This work should help to critically question common ideas and enable other forms of storytelling and action. In addition, initial steps have been taken toward a joint research project on energy cooperatives in South Africa with Prof. Mucha Togo, Department of Environmental Sciences.
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Foto: FernUniversität Hagen