Sub-Saharan Africa

The University of Groningen's cooperation with Africa goes back a long time. Collaboration with the University of Ouagadougou, for example, dates from the 1970's. Since then, the University of Groningen has continued to create partnerships with universities in South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, Ethiopia, Benin, Kenya and many other countries.

The University of Groningen’s contacts in Africa vary in type and scope. They range from exchange and joint research (supervision) agreements with universities and hospitals across Sub-Saharan Africa, to participation in research consortia within the framework of European projects, and capacity building projects financed by the Dutch government or other international programmes.

Research projects conducted by University of Groningen researchers and their Sub-Saharan counterparts span all UG faculties and cover areas such as astronomy, food security, biodiversity, (sustainable) energy, health, economics and business, history, demography, education, anthropology, law, innovation and entrepreneurship.

On this page you can find more information about:

• Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) strategy

• Partial travel grants

• News and events

• Contact

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) strategy 2022-2026

If the forecasts are correct, Africa will shape the future. With its rapidly growing population, natural resources, economic growth and changing political role, sub-Saharan Africa attracts interest from all over the world. The region will see a growing demand for higher education, and higher education and research will be crucial vehicles to address the challenges Africa - and the world - will face, e.g. in the domain of health, green transition, energy, digital transformation, sustainable growth, peace and security, and migration and mobility.

Universities in sub-Saharan Africa are key players for realizing the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. The University of Groningen, too, has committed itself to addressing these global challenges, through the stimulation of interdisciplinary research. Furthermore, we aim to prepare our students for living and working in an international society, by providing a global experience, in our international classrooms and abroad.

In view of the above, the University of Groningen has adopted a comprehensive strategy for sub-Saharan Africa for 2022-2026. Efforts will go towards:

• Stimulating people-to-people contacts (students and staff);
• Engaging in (new) partnerships and networks;
• Boosting educational and research innovation and co-creation;
• Boosting (interdisciplinary) contributions towards an enhanced research infrastructure in SSA and towards achieving the SDGs;
• Promoting sub-Saharan Africa locally and connecting (SSA) students and staff with local stakeholders;
• Positioning the UG and its activities in/with SSA locally and internationally.

Partial travel grants

Part of the strategy is that the UG will offer partial (travel) grants and subsidies to initiate or deepen collaboration between the UG and partners in SSA: universities, research institutes, ARUA Centres of Excellence, (non) governmental organizations et cetera.

The next call for applications will open on 1 March 2025 00:00 hrs and close on 30 April 2025 23:59 hrs. All information is available here (please note that you will be re-directed to a MyUniversity page and will need to log in). We invite PhDs, researchers, as well as teaching staff, academic staff and support staff from SSA institutions to contact their UG supervisor / counterparts for more information.

The latter can submit the application together with and on behalf of their incoming or outgoing guest.

News and events

Contact

More information: africa@rug.nl