Africa
Lund University has been collaborating with African partners for a long time. We conduct research of relevance for Africa and send as well as welcome both staff and students. We also conduct commissioned education with African participants.
Global Dynamic Engagement (GDE) is an approach on which Lund University bases its work to strengthen and further develop its international impact regarding research, education and innovation. Democracy, academic freedom and taking responsibility are the cornerstones of this work.
GDE for Sub-Saharan Africa
In the road map for Sub-Saharan Africa for 2023, prioritised activities are presented for the university-wide work during the year but does not exclude other issues that may become relevant for prioritisation. This is in accordance with the method used for the platform for strategic work, which Lund University is working to regarding 2023–2024.
- Diversify the portfolio regarding existing education agreements in e.g., Namibia and Botswana
- Focus the University’s set of strategic partners
- Develop approaches to promote cooperation with the network Africa Research Universities Alliance (ARUA)
- Use the SASUF project to a greater extent for cooperation with South Africa and the SANORD network for cooperation with southern Africa
- Investigate possibilities for cooperation with industry and innovation organisations
GDE for the Middle East and North Africa
- Initiate a review of existing mobility agreements
- Focus on well-established and well-functioning collaborations with among others strong co-publication actors. Opportunities to expand these collaborations should be prioritised over seeking new partners.
Read more about support and tools for responsible engagement
Read more about support and tools for sustainable engagement
SASUF – South Africa Sweden University Forum
Lund University is a member of the SASUF project (South Africa Sweden University Forum), together with 14 other Swedish and 22 South African universities. SASUF is coordinated by Uppsala University and is a cooperation project between universities, organisations and authorities in Sweden and South Africa. Funding comes from STINT, South African National Research Foundation (NRF) and Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). Swedish universities co-finance the project.
SASUF (South Africa Sweden University Forum) has been granted funding from STINT for three years from 2022 to 2024. The annual "SASUF 2030 Sustainability Forum" will be organised for researchers, teachers, students, as well as representatives of university managements, funders and ministries. The Sustainability Forum, consisting of a conference and a large amount of satellite activities, was arranged digitally 19-23 September 2022, and will be arranged on site in South Africa 27-31 March 2023 and 2024 in Sweden. The project will also offer seed funding for cooperation between Sweden and South Africa. Specific funding for digital collaboration will be available.
Southern African–Nordic Centre – SANORD
SANORD is a membership organisation consisting of universities in the Nordic region and southern Africa. The aim of the network is to strengthen academic collaborations and contacts between higher education institutions in southern Africa and the Nordic region. The network was formed in 2007 and consists of partner universities in Botswana, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
SANORD has nine Swedish member universities: Uppsala University, Lund University, Malmö University, University of Gothenburg, Karlstad University, Högskolan Väst, Linköping University, Linnaeus University and the Nordic Africa Institute.
SANORD offers an annual conference, mobility funds for students from southern Africa, seed funding for collaborative projects, and a "three-minute-thesis competition".
The next annual conference will be held on 20-22 September at the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Hamar Campus, Norway. The conference theme is "The role of higher education in contributing to just and sustainable futures" and the call for abstracts is open till 15 April within the following 6 subthemes:
- Theme 1: Global perspectives and sustainability in teacher education
- Theme 2: Future-proofing agriculture within a sustainable social-ecological context
- Theme 3: Global and mental health research
- Theme 4: Artificial Intelligence and the future of society
- Theme 5: Crisis Management: Towards a Sustainable Future
- Theme 6: Digital Technologies in Educational Systems
The university is now opening a call for five travel grants for the participation in the conference. For more information, please contact par [dot] svensson [at] er [dot] lu [dot] se
More information about the 2023 SANORD Conference at the SANORD website
Student exchange agreements
University-wide bilateral student exchange agreements have been established with:
African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA)
Lund University is exploring possibilities of collaboration with the ARUA network. If you are interested in collaborating with ARUA, please contact par [dot] svensson [at] er [dot] lu [dot] se.
Link to the ARUA network website
Mapping of interest for collaboration – food systems, migration and innovation
Lund University is currently conducting a survey of the interest within the University for collaboration with African partners in the broad area of "food systems".
An external reference group has been formed to advice and make recommendations for implementing the LU's strategy for cooperation with Africa. The group meets about once per semester.
The group includes the following members:
- Professor Ernest Aryeetey, Secretary-General of African Research Universities Alliance and previous Vice-Chancellor at the University of Ghana,
- Ms Marika Griehsel, journalist with long-standing experience from Africa.
- Professor Göran Hydén, University of Florida.
Read more about ARUA – African Research Universities Alliance
Lund University has an Africa Strategy Group with the task of promoting cooperation with Africa and supporting the implementation of the strategy. The group convenes approximately once a month.
The group has the following members:
- Professor Ellen Hillbom (chair)
- Professor Anette Agardh
- Professor Björn Bergenståhl
- Professor Petter Pilesjö
- Associate lecturer Vasna Ramasar
- Caitlin Homstad, student representative
- Pär Svensson, regional coordinator
Contact
Pär Svensson
International coordinator
+46 46 222 77 42
par [dot] svensson [at] er [dot] lu [dot] se