SU Africa

Africa’s population is the fastest-growing in the world. Over the next two decades, the continent will account for nearly half of global population growth. For this very reason, when disaster strikes on the continent, its effect on human lives and livelihoods is very often extremely serious, disrupting and undermining development. Informal settlement fires in Africa’s rapidly growing cities spread quickly and lead to deaths and property loss. Flash floods frequently claim many lives and displace thousands from their homes. And as the COVID-19 pandemic has again shown, when disease outbreaks occur, the continent’s public health systems struggle to cope.  

Through the two-year TRECCAfrica project Stellenbosch University (SU) has engaged and facilitated a unique academic exchange with some of Africa’s brightest minds. This project  serves as one of various multilateral African partnership networks coordinated by SU. By Ijeoma Opara 

A significant milestone in advancing SU International’s agenda of enhancing African scholarship has been the introduction of joint doctoral schools to support doctoral training on the continent. Under the Joint Schools in Africa programme, the host institution determines the theme for the school, and then proceeds to develop the curriculum in conjunction with SU staff. By Corina du Toit 

Due to Stellenbosch University’s strong engagement with the rest of Africa, the institution boasts bilateral agreements with 26 higher education institutions on the continent. These partnerships, which are developed and nurtured by SU International’s Centre for Collaboration in Africa, have provided many invaluable opportunities and benefits for students and staff over the years. By Birgit Ottermann

The African Students’ Board (ASB) at Stellenbosch University (SU) was established in 2012 to bring together African students on campus, strengthen kinship and advocate for their needs in a unified manner.  By Refiloe Nkhasi

The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) was inaugurated as a 15-member organisation in Dakar on 10 March 2015. The fundamental vision of this network of universities built from different countries and contexts is to enhance and develop research by African scholars on the African continent. ARUA’s mission is therefore to bring together the research-intensive universities on the continent and for them to pool their resources. By EDUARD BEUKMAN

Nestled in the heart of Stellenbosch, in the Stellenbosch University International office, are the African Union (AU)/New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Southern African Network of Water Centres of Excellence (SANWATCE). This network, despite its lengthy name, has a simple task: Promote research to achieve policy impact in the Southern African water sector. By DALAINE KRIGE

Over the years, Stellenbosch University (SU) has developed and nurtured numerous partnerships with universities and research institutions across the African continent. Many of these collaborations have resulted in formal bilateral partnership agreements, of which there are currently 26 such agreements. By NICO ELEMA

Since 2015, the Urban Modelling and Metabolism Assessment (uMAMA) research team at the School of Public Leadership has been undertaking game-changing and exciting research aimed at tracking urban resource flows and thereby shaping African cities. by PROF JOSEPHINE MUSANGO