Networking to solve African problems

Seventeen partners of the Australia Africa Universities Network (AAUN) gathered at UCT last week to explore ways in which they could harness their expertise across areas of priority for both Australia and Africa. This was in order to meet the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which are aimed at ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring prosperity for all.

The 2016 International Africa Forum also explored research synergies between the AAUN and the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) Global Africa Group – particularly in the context of African higher education.

At the same time, the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) held its first board meeting since its launch in 2015. Professor Ernest Aryeetey – retiring vice-chancellor of the University of Ghana – was elected as ARUA’s first secretary general.

In his address at the forum, Aryeetey said that there was a strong impetus for African universities to take charge of their own agenda and that the AAUN and ARUA needed to find ways of collaborating closely to achieve this.

Story Carolyn Newton. Photo Michael Hammond.

Caption: Delegates at the AAUN International Africa Forum, hosted at UCT.