Located in the Hillcrest Campus of the University of Pretoria, Future Africa is a flagship institute established on a purpose-built campus, to promote trans-disciplinary research excellence and foster the development of research networks, partnerships and training.

UP’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Tawana Kupe, says: “Future Africa is a space to create new knowledge in new ways to address current and emerging complex, often seemingly intractable challenges that face primarily our continent, but also resonate globally. This means that we find solutions to problems from a holistic viewpoint because problems rarely occur in a vacuum. At Future Africa, we aim to transform the world through African research excellence.”

On-site features include modern living quarters for postgraduate students, accommodation for visitors, a dining hall, an open Research Commons designed for interactive work and a state-of-the-art conference centre.

Future Africa focuses on promoting academic leadership by developing local and African science leaders, and on boosting the number of researchers on the continent through leadership development programmes, postgraduate, postdoctoral and research fellowships, and hosting of visiting scholars. 

In line with the National Development Plan, the African Union 2063 Strategy, and the Interim Post-2015 UN Strategic Development Goals, Future Africa’s research programmes are based in areas which underpin its ethos and values, namely:  sustainability and equity.