BOONE, N.C. — Dr. Jesse Lutabingwa, professor of public administration in Appalachian State University's Department of Government and Justice Studies, spent 40 days at the University of Zululand (UNIZULU) in South Africa this summer as a recipient of a Fulbright Specialist Program award.
From July 6 through Aug. 14, Lutabingwa worked with UNIZULU faculty, staff, and students to strengthen research capacity and advance the university's internationalization efforts. The residency also allowed him to deepen a longstanding relationship between App State and UNIZULU.
Lutabingwa received the award from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. His project resulted from a formal request from UNIZULU, supported by the U.S. Consulate in Durban, to help advance the institution's goals in research capacity, grant writing, and global internationalization.
"My time at UNIZULU has reaffirmed my long-standing belief that the university possesses tremendous potential to further strengthen its role as a leading institution of higher learning in South Africa and beyond," said Lutabingwa. "I have been particularly impressed by the commitment to global engagement, research development, student success, and community impact that I encountered across the campus."
A major focus of Lutabingwa's residency was building research capacity among UNIZULU faculty members and postgraduate students. He worked closely with the university's Research and Innovation Office, facilitating proposal development and grant-writing workshops for faculty members. He also conducted three university-wide workshops for postgraduate students focused on research proposal development, academic publishing, and research design.
Dr. Jesse Lutabingwa leads a grant-writing workshop at UNIZULU. Photo submitted
"The level of interest, participation, and intellectual curiosity displayed by the students was truly impressive," Lutabingwa said.
Lutabingwa worked with UNIZULU's International Office and faculty representatives on the university's global engagement priorities. Through those discussions, he supported the International Office in operationalizing its internationalization strategy and aligning its work with the university's priorities.
The residency also gave Lutabingwa opportunities to engage with students in his own academic field. He delivered a guest lecture, "Revisiting the Doctrine of Trias Politica: A Comparative Analysis of the United States and South Africa," to undergraduate and postgraduate public administration students.
Dr. Jesse Lutabingwa delivers a guest lecture at UNIZULU. Photo submitted
He also participated in UNIZULU's International Education Week and attended a three-day workshop on African pedagogies and decolonizing the curriculum. These experiences offered Lutabingwa opportunities to share his expertise while learning from his South African colleagues.
His Fulbright activities extended beyond the UNIZULU campus. As part of Mandela Month and the America250 commemoration of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, Lutabingwa participated in a program organized by the U.S. Consulate in Durban and American Corner Pietermaritzburg in partnership with the Msunduzi Municipality Youth Office.
There, he delivered a lecture and facilitated a discussion titled "The American Experience: 250 Years of Liberty, Democracy, and Civic Leadership." The session was part of a five-day leadership development program for 41 Ward Youth Committee members.
For Lutabingwa, the Fulbright residency also marked a return to an institutional partnership he helped create over fifteen years ago. While serving as App State's associate vice chancellor for international education and development, he helped establish a memorandum of understanding between App State and UNIZULU in 2009.
His 2026 residency built on that foundation by renewing connections between the universities and identifying opportunities for further collaboration. During Lutabingwa's visit, two App State faculty members from the Walker College of Business also traveled to UNIZULU to attend the MBALI Conference organized by its Faculty of Commerce, Administration and Law.
Lutabingwa said the Fulbright experience generated interest in continuing and expanding the partnership. Proposed next steps include annual research proposal workshops, co-supervision of master's and doctoral candidates in public administration, joint research projects, and expanded virtual and in-person exchanges for students and faculty.
"I hope that this Fulbright Specialist engagement marks not the end of a visit, but the continuation of an even stronger partnership between UNIZULU and Appalachian State University," shared Lutabingwa.
The experience also reinforced Lutabingwa's belief that universities should approach internationalization in ways that benefit the communities they serve.
"Internationalization is not an end in itself, but rather a means of enhancing teaching, research, and service to society," wrote Lutabingwa in his final report. "Global engagement and local relevance must go hand in hand. Whether through international partnerships, research collaborations, curriculum development, or student exchanges, the ultimate goal is to prepare graduates who can effectively address local challenges while contributing to a globally interconnected world."
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About the Fulbright Specialist Program
The Fulbright Specialist Program, part of the larger Fulbright Program, was established in 2001 by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). The program pairs highly qualified U.S. academics and professionals with host institutions abroad to share their expertise, strengthen institutional linkages, hone their skills, gain international experience, and learn about other cultures while building capacity at their overseas host institutions through two- to six-week, project-based exchanges. Learn more about the Fulbright Specialist Program
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio, and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more about Appalachian State University
By Lauren Gibbs
October 5, 2026
BOONE, N.C.
Smiling man with glasses and a beard, wearing a black shirt patterned with yellow geometric shapes against a bright yellow background.
Dr. Jesse Lutabingwa is a professor of public administration in Appalachian State University's Department of Government and Justice Studies. Photo by University Communications