University of Pretoria (UP) Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Tawana Kupe was in Australia recently for the Australia Africa Universities Network’s (AAUN) annual general meeting at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia.

As the network’s chairperson for Africa, Prof Kupe reported that the AAUN has played an important role in creating opportunities for mobility and exchange for African and European universities. He said the AAUN is a significant enabler for cross-continental and intra-continental collaboration.

“We need to draw on lessons to enhance intra-African collaboration for greater impact,” he said.

“The reason for our annual general meeting is to take stock of the activities in the network and approve plans for the following year,” Prof Kupe explained. “It is also to listen to researchers presenting work achieved in the network and to participate in panels of vice-chancellors charting the future for the network and directions for higher education.”

Speaking about UP’s partnership with AAUN, Prof Kupe said that high-quality education and cutting-edge research that is impactful and transformative in both academia and in broader society best happens in settings where institutions from different countries collaborate.   

“Knowledge simply knows no disciplinary, national or continental borders. Collaborations and partnerships that the AAUN enables contribute to transdisciplinary education and research that addresses local and global challenges like climate change and the planetary crisis that the whole world faces,” he said.

Emerging from COVID-19 lockdowns, AAUN is strengthening its links with governments and business by creating impact through research, education, and international teamwork. The organisation has 23 university members (10 Australian, 13 African), with 60 research teams addressing regional and global challenges.

During the AGM, academics, researchers and scholars discussed issues such as security, the environment and agriculture, food and nutrition, health and diseases, education, employment and economic development.

The AAUN noted that failing to address some of these challenges that are prevalent across many parts of the world fuels insecurity among migrants, terrorism, human trafficking, cybercrime, corruption and societal destabilisation. These challenges require networks such as the AAUN to build stronger collaborations with governments, business, alumni, and the diaspora.

Prof Kupe said that the success of networking and collaboration to support knowledge production, capacity development and mobilisation is astonishing, given the limited investment in the seed funding grants.

“The network has provided and facilitated opportunities for leverage funding of larger funded projects. Such funding enables people to connect with each other and work together. For example, six African countries have been provided with direct connection and collaboration with relevant researchers from AAUN Africa member universities,” said Prof Kupe.