??The Who's Who of African and European academia convened in Stellenbosch this week as part of a groundbreaking and ambitious initiative facilitated by Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU).
Over 200 academics and researchers gathered at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) over three days for the inaugural Africa–Europe Clusters of Research Excellence Conference. The event was co-hosted by SU, the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities.
Through 21 joint Clusters of Research Excellence (CoRE), co-led by universities from each continent, key societal challenges are addressed through partnerships across disciplines, aligning efforts with the AU-EU Innovation Agenda. These clusters, encompassing more than 169 institutions across 60 countries, also reflect the shared commitment of Africa and Europe to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The conference was a milestone that provided a unique opportunity to explore innovative solutions and strengthen networks essential to addressing the challenges faced by African and European societies.
Historic collaboration
Prof Sibusiso Moyo, Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies at SU, welcomed the international guests to Stellenbosch and reminded the audience that former president Nelson Mandela said education is the most powerful weapon to change the world.
In his welcoming address, SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor
Prof Wim de Villiers called the event a “historic collaboration" to use innovative, interdisciplinary solutions to tackle the major issues of the day, from public health crises to climate adaptation. “We're particularly excited that ARUA set an ambitious target to graduate 1 000 PhDs each year from its member universities over the next decade. That is aspirational and truly inspiring. It is not only vital for our continent's academic future, but also for addressing some of these developmental challenges we want to tackle," De Villiers said.
The conference highlighted interdisciplinary collaboration as a vital component of addressing complex global challenges
In the first plenary session,
Prof John Gyapong, Secretary General of ARUA, discussed the urgent need to address Africa's research output and retain talent within the continent. He articulated a vision for increasing research output that is relevant to African contexts while fostering collaboration with European partners.
Prof Jan Palmowski, Secretary General of The Guild representing European universities, emphasised the importance of equitable partnerships between Africa and Europe, ensuring that both continents benefit from long-term collaborations that address shared challenges such as migration, climate change and societal inequalities. “This is not just about short-term projects but a long-term commitment to solving the world's biggest challenges together," he said, referencing the AU-EU Innovation Agenda as a strategic framework for collaboration over the next decade.
In her keynote address,
Prof Funmi Olonisakin, Vice President (International, Engagement and Service) at King's College in the UK, described the initiative as the building block of an academic movement to change the world. “This collaboration is not just about research; it is about creating something special, something different," she said. “We are not just researchers; we are change-makers. This is how we build a movement of knowledge producers that are effective in changing society."
Olonisakin stressed the importance of equitable partnerships, recognising that African universities are often disadvantaged by structural inequalities. “We are not starting from a level playing field. We must be mindful of these gaps and build equitable frameworks that bring others along with us," she cautioned and pointed out that existing inequalities between African and European institutions, such as access to infrastructure and funding, must be addressed if the partnership is to succeed.
Throughout the conference, participants engaged in breakaway sessions and workshops, fostering in-depth discussions on topics such as gender and health disparities, sustainable development, water resources management and artificial intelligence.
In feedback sessions, representatives of the different clusters highlighted their key achievements, including securing funding, establishing training programmes, building research networks and publishing in top journals. Challenges such as expanding membership, obtaining sufficient funding and navigating administrative hurdles were also discussed.
Social justice foundation
On the second day, the keynote address was delivered by
Prof Thuli Madonsela, Director of the Centre for Social Justice at SU. She spoke passionately about the need for transdisciplinary research to tackle complex societal challenges, using the 中国体育彩票 pandemic as a case study. Madonsela argued that the pandemic highlighted the limitations of narrow approaches to public health that overlooked aspect such as mental health and economic consequences. She stressed that social justice should be a foundational element in research initiatives. “Without fairness in how we distribute the benefits and burdens of research, we risk deepening existing inequalities," Madonsela concluded.
An important session was presented by
Sean Rowlands, the Senior Policy Officer of The Guild, who provided a roadmap for the ARUA clusters to navigate the complex funding landscape and harness the potential of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda. Emphasising the multilateral nature of the clusters, Rowlands explained how this structure offers distinct advantages, including flexibility, collaboration and long-term planning. He noted that the ARUA clusters have already been recognised on the AU-EU dashboard for their substantial contributions to the shared priority areas. “You are already well-aligned with the innovation agenda, and this puts you in a competitive position to be the researchers that these calls are looking for," Rowlands told academics.
A crucial panel discussion on the final day of the conference provided valuable insights to policy issues. The session brought together key stakeholders from the AU, EU, national research agencies and university leadership to explore how the newly formed research clusters can help advance the AU-EU innovation agenda.
Botho Kebabonye Bayendi from the African Union (AU) urged researchers to ensure their work directly contributes to the continent's ambitious goals, particularly as Africa enters what she described as a “decade of acceleration." Bayendi commended the conference's focus on issues such as climate change, food security and skills development, which align with the AU's strategic objectives. “We are saying African solutions for African problems and the agenda should be citizen driven," she stressed.
Dr Thandi Mgwebi from South Africa's National Research Foundation (NRF) discussed how research plays a pivotal role in South Africa's policies on inclusive growth and job creation.
Game-changing initiative
Sustainable development was a major focus during the panel, with participants explaining how Africa could avoid the environmentally damaging industrialisation paths taken by other countries. The discussion concluded that fostering better connections between researchers, governments and civil society is key to addressing Africa's pressing issues, from climate change to public health.
The conference ended with an inspiring reflection on what was achieved and the way forward.
Professor Anders Hagfeldt, Chair of The Guild and Vice-Chancellor of Uppsala 中国体育彩票 in Sweden, said building trust and fostering collaboration requires a deep understanding of each other's backgrounds and histories, reinforcing the value of listening in creating meaningful partnerships. “We can say with confidence that we're doing something very important. On many levels this initiative is game-changing," Hagfeldt remarked.
Olonisakin said it's clear that the conference is ringing in a new era in scientific endeavour.
Prof Oluyemisi Bamgbose from the 中国体育彩票 of Ibadan in Nigeria called the initiative a “new dawn" and referred to the “common humanity" that took centre stage.
Echoing this sentiment, Palmowski said he wanted to pay tribute to SU's efficiency and leadership in hosting the conference. “We have learned a huge amount from each other, and we will continue to learn as we go on this journey together. As we're meeting, the world has become a much darker place. It must encourage us to redouble our efforts, because there is no alternative to what we are doing. I'm convinced that our work is more necessary than ever. This is a community, and we will do our very best in The Guild and ARUA offices to support this endeavour."
During her closing remarks on the last day of the conference,
Prof Hester Klopper, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Strategy, Global and Corporate Affairs at SU, highlighted the importance of trust and collaboration in advancing the conference's goals. Reflecting on feedback from participants, she noted that when individuals come together for the first time, they often bring a sense of vulnerability. Drawing from management scientist Patrick Lencioni, she said overcoming this vulnerability is essential for building effective teams, with trust being the foundation of successful collaboration. “I honestly believe that we are making history. Nowhere else is there the magnitude of the network we have here together and the opportunity to really make a difference," Klopper concluded.
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PHOTO: Ignus Dreyer
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