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.
Travel allowance for SANORD's conference 13-15 August 2025
You can now apply for a travel grant for participation in SANORD's annual conference, which will be arranged 13-15 August 2025 at Aarhus University, Denmark.
For more information and instructions for the application, please contact Pär Svensson par [dot] svenssson [at] er [dot] lu [dot] se (par[dot]svenssson[at]er[dot]lu[dot]se).
More information about the conference: SANORD 2025: Knowledge Economies in a Changing World
Deadline for submission of abstracts is 1 April.
GDE for Africa
In the roadmap for Africa for 2025, 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 2025–2027.
- Identifying Global Hub partners in Southern Africa.
- Promoting collaboration through the AU-EU Innovation Agenda.
- Developing the participation in the Southern African-Nordic Centre (SANORD) and South Africa Sweden University Forum (SASUF).
- Strengthening collaboration with the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), including through Universitas 21 (U21).
- Expanding student exchange with the University of Ghana and University of Namibia.
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 partner in SASUF (South Africa Sweden University Forum) together with 14 Swedish and 26 South African partner universities. SASUF is coordinated by Uppsala University and is a collaborative project between universities, organisations and authorities in Sweden and South Africa. Funding comes from STINT, the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Department of Higher Educations and Training (DHET). Swedish universities co-finance the project.
At SASUF's concluding conference in Lund, Malmö and Alnarp on 15-17 May 2024, the university leaders confirmed their support for a continuation of the project. A working group will draw up a proposal for a continuation.
Southern African–Nordic Centre – SANORD
SANORD is a member organisation that consists of universities from the Nordics and Southern Africa. The purpose of the network is to strengthen academic cooperation and contacts between universities in Southern Africa and the Nordic countries.
The network was established in 2007 and has member universities in:
- Botswana
- Denmark
- Finland
- Iceland
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Norway
- Sweden
- South Africa
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
SANORD is coordinated by a secretariat at the Western Cape University, South Africa.
SANORD has nine Swedish member universities:
- Gothenburg University
- Högskolan Väst
- Karlstad University
- Linköping University
- Linnaeus University
- Lund University
- Malmö University
- North Africa Institute
- Uppsala University
Lund University is elected to SANORD's board for 2024-2025.
SANORD offers, among other things, an annual conference, mobility funds for students from Southern Africa, seed money for collaborative projects and a "three-minute-thesis-competition".
The 2024 Annual Scientific Conference will be held 4-6 December at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa.
More information about SANORD is available 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 (par[dot]svensson[at]er[dot]lu[dot]se).
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, former Vice-Chancellor at the University of Ghana and Secretary-General of African Research Universities Alliance,
- Ms Marika Griehsel, journalist with long-standing experience from Africa.
- Professor Göran Hydén, University of Florida.
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
- Senior lecturer Vasna Ramasar
- Fatoumata Suso, student representative
- Pär Svensson, international coordinator
Contact
Pär Svensson
International coordinator
+46 46 222 77 42
par [dot] svensson [at] global [dot] lu [dot] se
Global Dynamic Engagement 2025
GDE Fact Sheet
The purpose, the process and the roadmap