In a significant recognition of global academic excellence, the University of Pretoria (UP) and the University of Leeds have been shortlisted for the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) Award for International Collaboration of the Year. The THE Awards are widely regarded as the global “Oscars” of higher education, and this nomination underscores the impact of the universities’ partnership, which aims to address two of the world’s most pressing challenges – food security and climate-smart agriculture.

The collaboration between the two institutions began as a partnership to enhance complementary research expertise, initially focusing on food systems and sustainable agricultural practices. Over time, this partnership has evolved into a strategic relationship aimed at enhancing research capabilities, empowering and fostering partnerships between institutions in the Global North and South, and creating lasting research impact.

“This partnership redefines equitable, strategic collaboration,” said Professor Frans Swanepoel, FSNet-Africa Principal Investigator and Future Africa Research Chair in Sustainable Food Systems. “By training the next generation of researchers, we are laying the groundwork for lasting innovation and resilience in Africa’s food systems.”

A transformative collaboration

This nomination is primarily attributed to the significant contributions of the Food Systems Research Network for Africa (FSNet-Africa), which has been a key driver among several impactful initiatives. The FSNet-Africa project, a partnership between UP, the University of Leeds, and the Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network, enhanced the research capacities of 20 early-career researchers from 10 institutions in six African countries (Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, South Africa and Zambia), equipping them with the skills to conduct impactful research and collaborate with key stakeholders in food systems. The early-career researchers collaborated with mentors from across the network, forming research teams that included over 83 researchers in total. This project was funded under the auspices of a collaboration between the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and the United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI). The project has already begun to show tangible results, including institutional changes, curriculum integration and professional recognition for its fellows.

One of the early successes has been the capacity building of more than 60 African researchers and expanding the networks of over 20 UK researchers, enabling them to drive forward initiatives that influence policy, improve weather forecasting and develop climate-informed agricultural practices. This collaboration has fostered leadership among women, with many fellows receiving prestigious nominations such as the World Food Prize Top Agri-Food Pioneers. FSNet-Africa had the distinguished honour of hosting a breakout session at the prestigious World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue, focused on advancing research and partnerships for a sustainable African food system.

Expanding research frontiers

The success of this collaboration has also sparked other initiatives. Together, the universities are training students through the Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy (DARA) project and expanding their research into data science and artificial intelligence. Additionally, Future Africa, UP's pan-African platform for collaborative research, has secured two collaborative PhD programmes under the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), funded by the Mastercard Foundation, to strengthen research capacity in sustainable food systems and the politics of sustainable development across the continent.

A remarkable achievement

This prestigious nomination comes at a time of growing recognition for UP’s global impact. Earlier this year, UP achieved a significant milestone by ranking in the Top 100 globally for two UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the 2024 THE Impact Rankings: SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). “The University’s focus on impactful research, community engagement, and partnerships demonstrates its commitment to addressing the world’s greatest challenges,” Prof Swanepoel said.

As the academic world eagerly awaits the announcement of the THE winners at the ICC Birmingham in November 2024, “the recognition of this collaboration highlights the profound impact of North-South partnerships in creating a more sustainable, equitable future for all”, Prof Swanepoel said. This nomination extends beyond the collaboration between UP and the University of Leeds and also recognises the contributions of the 10 FSNet-Africa academic partners: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Ghana, University of Nairobi, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Malawi University of Science and Technology, University of the Western Cape, University of Dar es Salaam, Sokoine University of Agriculture, University of Zambia, and the University of York.

For more on the FSNet-Africa partnership and its remarkable contributions, visit FSNet-Africa.