Cape Town - For the first time, UCT will be hosting 16 vice-chancellors from some of Africa's institutions of higher learning to strengthen collaborations.
Some of the institutions that will be present include Stellenbosch University, University of Pretoria, Rhodes University, King College London, Glasgow and Paris.
"The purpose is to discuss the formation of clusters of excellence with multimillion euros in funding, bringing the two powerful alliances together to tackle the grand challenges of the 21st century, thus maximising the impact of their work,“ UCT said in a statement.
This gathering follows an innovation agenda proposed by the AU on February 14 ahead of the AU-EU summit. This is where universities were challenged to take a central position in the development of AU-EU relations.
"The agenda was supported supported by both the Guild and African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA). One concrete element of the proposal was the development and strengthening of clusters of excellence, which would foster research excellence and strengthen intra-African as well as North-South science collaboration.”
The ARUA was founded in 2015 and consists of 16 leading research universities in Africa. Its purpose is to expand and enhance the quality of research by and on the continent.
This prestigious gathering comes amid the whirlwind of accusations against UCT Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng and the uncertainty of her fate. Though she continues her duties, UCT spokesperson Elijah Moholola confirmed that the independent retired judge to sit for her investigation had not been appointed.
Furthermore, the independent panel, as detailed in the head of the council's feedback last month, has also not been appointed. It is understood that the UCT council will have a special seating on Monday to elect the independent judge, and the panel is set to determine Phakeng's fate.