University of Pretoria from 26 to 28 September 2012 , in collaboration with the Association for the Development of Education in Africa with the theme "Internationalisation of Higher Education in Africa: Maximising Benefits, Minimising Risks".

In the past few years, the international dimension of higher education has also started gaining momentum in Africas higher education sector, as we attempt to meet the continents challenges in the 21st century. While it presents many opportunities, internationalisation also faces challenges and poses serious consequences to Africas higher education. The turn of the 21st century has witnessed attempts at revitalising and harmonizing African higher education and the development of regional frameworks, networks and consortia, growing academic mobility, as well as growth in cross-border provision. These are encapsulated in the new policy direction aimed at strengthening Africas Higher Education and Research Space (AHERS).

The African Union (AU), New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD) and regional higher education organisations have consequently accorded higher education a central role, especially in relation to human resources development, knowledge production, innovations and inventions. This provides a scope for increased internationalisation activities and collaboration among African universities, and in their engagement with other universities beyond Africas borders.

The ANIE conference's objectives are to open the debate on these core issues and its benefits and to bring together researchers, academics, policy makers, institutional leaders and government officials. Four core focus areas have been identified, namely:
1. inter-institutional partnerships;
2. research collaborations;
3. the development of regional frameworks, networks and consortia; and
4. academic mobility and growth in cross-border provision.

In doing this, they will also discuss the inherent risks and challenges posed by internationalisation with a view to developing interventions to minimise them.

The expected outcomes of the conference are:
- An increased awareness of "internationalisation of higher education" and its implications for Africa in the four focus areas of this conference;
- A stronger commitment of higher education stakeholders to increasing the benefits of internationalisation of higher education in Africas development;
- A series of recommendations, policies and strategies to minimise the risks and unintended consequences associated with the "internationalisation of higher education in Africa";
- A continental research agenda which explores more deeply the benefits and risks of inter-institutional partnerships, academic mobility, regional frameworks and research collaboration;
- An action plan on how higher education institutions can take advantage of the benefits of internationalisation while minimising its risks; and
- Greater support for the work and role of ANIE in strengthening Africas higher education sector and its contribution to African development.

Internationalisation is a strategic focus of the University of Pretoria and I would strongly urge you to take advantage of this invitation to participate in the ANIE Conference, which is taking place on your "home turf" this year.

Registration can be done online at http://web.up.ac.za/anie  ( http://www.up.ac.za/anie ) conference.