The Guild supports ARUA’s call to strengthen Africa’s research ecosystem, ahead of the EU-AU summit 2022

published on 2022-02-15by cestaf Commentaires fermés

Ahead of the EU-AU summit (17-18 February 2022), sixteen leading universities in Africa urge African governments and the African Union (AU) to support the development of Clusters of Excellence and the expansion of research infrastructure in African universities, endorsing the joint initiative of The Guild and ARUA.

In the statement, the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) appeal to African leaders to recognise the outstanding potential of Africa’s public universities in strengthening Africa’s knowledge society. The signatories of the statement highlight the need for a strong research ecosystem in Africa if the continent is to undertake a structural and sustainable transformation, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Vice-Chancellors and Rectors call for the identification and development of interdisciplinary Clusters of Excellence at African universities which would provide long-term academic career prospects, strengthen South-South and equitable South-North research partnerships, and address key strategic areas of Africa’s transformation.

The Guild strongly supports the initiative led by ARUA, with whom The Guild has jointly advocated for the funding of more Clusters of Excellence on the African continent.

Jan Palmowski, Secretary-General of The Guild, said: « The ARUA statement articulates persuasively how African universities can strengthen their contribution to global knowledge production, and support the transformation of their regions, through cutting-edge interdisciplinary research clusters strengthening inter-African collaboration, and developing equitable north-south partnerships. Strengthening African universities through competitive clusters of excellence must now become a central pillar of the new AU-EU strategic partnership, as advocated by ARUA, The Guild, and twenty European Rectors’ conferences. »

Read the ARUA statement and see the full response from The Guild here.

Invited by the East Stratcom Task Force of the European Commission, Prof. Sergiu Mișcoiu conducted a study about the way numerous young Africans, disillusioned by socio-economic struggles, are drawn to alternative narratives making them receptive to Kremlin’s anti-Western propaganda. The main conclusions of the study are here (EN):
https://euvsdisinfo.eu/the-wind-is-blowing-towards-the-east-the-vulnerability-of-young-africans-to-anti-western-propaganda/

Invité par le Groupe de Travail East Stratcom de la Commission européenne, Sergiu Mișcoiu a mené une étude sur les nombreux jeunes Africains, qui, désillusionnés par les difficultés socio-économiques, se laissent attirer par des récits alternatifs et deviennent réceptifs à la propagande anti-occidentale du Kremlin. Les principales conclusions de l’étude sont ici (FR):
https://euvsdisinfo.eu/fr/le-vent-souffle-vers-lest-la-vulnerabilite-des-jeunes-africains-face-a-la-propagande-anti-occidentale/

Prof. Sergiu Mișcoiu, directorul Centrului de Studii Africane al UBB, a analizat pentru « Europa Liberă » dinamica războiului civil din Sudan, implicarea statelor și facțiunilor regionale și a marilor puteri în prelungirea și agravarea ostilităților, agravarea crizei umanitare, precum și precaritatea oricăror armistiții, în condițiile în care nu va avea loc o dizolvare a Forțelor de Sprijin Rapid în armata regulată sudaneză.
https://romania.europalibera.org/a/sudan-conflict-armat-interese-geopolitice-criza-umanitara/32398814.html

ACTIVITÉ

Le colloque international Les systèmes politiques africains et le défi de la mondialisation, organisé par le Centre d’Etudes Africaines et la Faculté d’Études Européennes de l’Université Babeș-Bolyai, en partenariat avec l’Université de Bucarest (FSPUB) et l’Université de l’Ouest de Timișoara (Centre Ubuntu), s’est déroulé les 5 et 6 novembre 2020 avec plus de 60 participants de 15 pays. De nombreux débats passionnés notamment sur les cas du Mali, de la Guinée et de la Côte d’Ivoire. Deux publications – l’une en français, l’autre en anglais – reprendront les actes de ce colloque en 2021.

Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Stabilisation

The Director of the Centre for African Studies (CESTAF) had the honour to be the co-director of the training course « Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Stabilisation », organized by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE), the Romanian Aid Agency (RoAid) and the African Union (UA). An enriching experience with experts and practitioners from Africa and the European Union.

Babes-Bolyai University, a member of the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, contributed to the elaboration of the
‘Concept Note on the development of research and education in Africa‘ [PDF], together with the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA)

A la demande de l’Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie – Bureau Europe Centrale et Orientale, le Professeur Sergiu Mișcoiu a donné le cours « Etat de droit et droits de l’homme. Perspectives francophones », avec une mini-étude de cas sur le dernier coup d’Etat au Mali (août 2020). [LIEN DU COURS]

Prof. univ. dr. Sergiu Mișcoiu, directorul Centrului de Cooperari Internationale al UBB si coordonatorul Masteratului de Studii Politice Europene Comparate în limba franceză, a fost prezent în perioada 17-19 octombrie la Universitatea din Szeged unde a discutat despre Programul de Dezvoltare Africa-Europa (video)