Speaking at the Times Higher Education World Academic Summit in Cape Town, leaders from Australian, European and South African universities called for deeper, long-term international partnerships that deliver practical benefits beyond memorandums of understanding. Glenn Toogood of Adelaide University and Christophe Lerouge of IMT Atlantique highlighted examples including joint research labs, PhD programs and industry-linked work in energy and technology. They emphasized identifying shared problems first, committing resources at multiple institutional levels and focusing on common values rather than short-term political or commercial arrangements. The PIE News reports that success depends on sustained engagement rather than the number of agreements signed.