ARUA-Guild: new Clusters of Excellence

The University of Groningen is a consortium partner in two new Africa-Europe Clusters of Excellence - lead by ARUA and the Guild (2023-2032). These so-called CoRE are being set up in the framework of the AU-EU dialogue to build research capacity and excellence across both continents, especially related to the SDGs.

CoRE IPD will be led by the UG and the University of Cape Town. Other core partners are the Universities of Aarhus, Ghana, Göttingen and Nairobi. CoRE IPD aims to grow indigenous African research capacity with a work programme that includes the multidimensional inequalities that are confronted in several of the SDGs and that intersect in perpetuating inequality and poverty. UG’s lead is Prof. Robert Lensink. CoRE IPD will be supported by UG’s Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development, and by ISR.

CoRE Renewable Energy

UG will also be a partner in CoRE Renewable Energy, led by the University of Ghent and Stellenbosch University, our strategic partner on the subcontinent. Also involved are the Universities of Makerere, Nairobi and Oslo. CoRE Renewable Energy aims to facilitate a long‐term sustainable transition toward a sustainable energy system, building on technology development, equitable societal transition, and sustainable education and training. UG’s lead PI is Prof. Lorenzo Squintani. The Cluster will be supported by the Wubbo Ockels School for Energy and Climate, and by ISR.

Both CoRE are in line with the objectives of UG’s SSA strategy. As they are interdisciplinary, they will offer opportunities for many UG staff and (PhD) students to become involved in the course of the next few years. More details will become available after the summer.