On 15-17 November, Vice Chancellor Professor Evelyn Welch delivered a keynote address at the 2023 ARUA Biennial Conference on the “The Africa Charter for Transformative Research Partnerships: A New Approach to Research Relationships”.
She addressed experts from universities, research institutions, government, industry, civil society and other organisations, as they came together at the University of Lagos to reimagine the future of African higher education. Read more about the conference here.
The Charter and the University of Bristol
Professor Welch talked about the Charter as a unique Africa-centred framework, co-created by Africa’s major HE constituencies, AAU and ARUA foremost among them. It is a vision for advancing a more just, richer, and more potent global scientific endeavour, in which Africa takes its rightful place.
In her well-received address, she reflected on what the Charter’s ambitions mean for us at the University of Bristol, the challenges they set and why we are engaged with these challenges.
Conference highlights
Joining Professor Welch on the first day of the conference was Professor Adam Habib, Director of SOAS University of London, who spoke about challenging our current approach to global partnerships and student mobility, urging institutions to do more and to recognise the injustices in their own practices. Professor Daya Reddy, interim Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Town (UCT) also spoke on the need to strengthen capacity for collaboration.
At dinner on day two, the speech was given by Professor Funmi Olonisakin, Vice President/Principal (International) of Kings College, London, who talked about African universities needing to work together, rethink and re-vision the brand new world that faces the continent.
Read more about the various activities around the Africa Charter here.
