I hope this message finds you well. My name is Nokubonga Mathimba, an MBA student currently pursuing studies at the Graduate School of Business (GSB) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

You are cordially invited to participate in a research study that aims to explore and enhance collaboration between academic and professional services staff at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, specifically at the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Sciences.

I would be deeply grateful if you could spare 20 minutes of your time to participate in this important research. Your insights and perspectives would be invaluable in helping us understand the current state of collaboration and identify opportunities for improvement.

Attached herewith are the Ethical Clearance approval letter, Informed Consent Form, and Gatekeepers approval letter.

At your earliest convenience, kindly sign the attached Informed Consent Form and return it to Ms Nokubonga Mathimba at 208524635@stu.ukzn.ac.za / Mathimba@ukzn.ac.za.

Additionally, please complete the online questionnaire accessible through this link: https://forms.office.com/r/6bnV5G7mJe. It would be great if you can submit your response by Jul 29, 2024.

Kindly note that your participation in this research study is completely voluntary. All of your responses will be kept strictly confidential, and your anonymity will be fully protected throughout the study.

If you have any questions about the study, its procedures, or your rights as a participant, please contact the researcher, Ms Nokubonga Mathimba at 208524635@stu.ukzn.ac.za or my supervisor Professor Bibi Zaheenah Chummun at ChummunB@ukzn.ac.za

Thank you in advance for your time and support. I look forward to your valuable input in this study.