Tuesday, 07 February 2023
Academics in the UK and Africa are joining forces to advance research and education across the continents of Europe and Africa.
The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ and the have signed a five-year agreement which will promote close collaboration on new international studies and projects.
The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ will also host the AAU’s first-ever European office and act as its representative institution in Europe.
The Association of African Universities (AAU), headquartered in Accra, Ghana, represents more than 400 higher education institutions across Africa.
The two institutions have agreed to collaborate in specific areas such as building capacity in staff, researchers and students, as well as quality assurance, resource mobilisation, ICT and other infrastructural development.
Professor Robert Mokaya, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Global Engagement at the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, and Professor Olusola Bandele Oyewole, General Secretary at the AAU signed the memorandum of understanding last week.
The partnership will be hosted by the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½’s School of Education and led by Professor Juliet Thondhlana, who is also the UNESCO Chair in International Education and Development.
International collaboration is essential to teaching and research. The university is developing a new strategy for engaging with partners in Africa, at the core of which is developing equitable partnerships with collaborators, so we are delighted to be partnering with the AAU to advance research and innovation across our continents.
Professor Thondhlana added: "I look forward to seeing what we can achieve together as our collaboration grows further.”
Despite the AAU having a number of partnerships with institutions in Europe, the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ has become a home and focal point to AAU member universities and its other networks for effective partnerships with European counterparts, particularly with the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ itself that has emerged as a world-class, research-intensive university whose research transforms lives and shapes futures.
Story credits
More information is available from Professor Juliet Thondhlana in the School of Education at the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ at Juliet.Thondhlana@nottingham.ac.uk or; Felicia Nkrumah Kuagbedzi, communications at Association of African Universities at fnkrumah@aau.org
Notes to editors:
About the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what’s next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ invests in the city of ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ and in future generations of talent. Alongside ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we’re creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.