University heads push for European investment in Africa

Rectors seek support for inter-university projects on public health, digitalisation, climate change and governance

Twenty European national rectors’ conferences and the European University Association—together representing more than 1,100 universities—have called on the EU to make “substantial investments” in African universities’ research capacity.

“To realise the ambitious objectives of [the African Union policy plan] Agenda 2063 and the EU’s firm commitment to sustainability, new investments in the research capacity of African universities, and new efforts to strengthen research collaborations between African and European universities and research institutions, are timely and urgently needed,” the organisations said in a joint statement published this week.