Members of the African Engineering and Technology Network (AFRETEC) have committed to fostering deeper, wider, and enhanced collaborations among universities to bolster research levels across the continent.
This pledge was made during a two-day workshop on promoting collaborative research for inclusive digital transformation among AFRETEC universities and private universities in Rwanda, hosted by the University of Rwanda (UR) from March 25 to 26.
Funded by the Mastercard Foundation through Carnegie Mellon University-Africa, AFRETEC is a 10-year project aimed at driving inclusive digital growth through higher education and collaboration. Technology-focused universities from across Africa collaborate to build engineering and technology capacity in education, knowledge creation, and entrepreneurship.
The workshop included presentations from some African Centers of Excellence that focus on engineering and technology and sharing collaboration experiences by participants through different panel sessions.
Dr Pierre Bakunzibake, the AFRETEC Project Lead at UR, emphasised the workshop’s focus on interdisciplinary research collaboration and highlighted the need for more enthusiastic collaborations among partners.
"Discussions centred on enhancing collaboration through actions such as organising research conferences and leveraging networking opportunities for impactful research outcomes,” he explained.
Furthermore, Bakunzibake emphasised inclusivity, reaching out to universities both within and outside the region for broader collaboration. He outlined plans to strengthen efforts towards addressing societal challenges through impactful actions and increasing research output.
Reflecting on the workshop’s outcomes, Prof. Jesang Hutchinson, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Enterprise at the University of Nairobi, stressed the importance of sharing experiences and strengthening collaborations within the research and innovation ecosystem.
She highlighted the need for broader discussions involving policymakers to ensure impactful investments in research and innovation.
Assoc. Prof. Telesphore Kabera, Director of Research and Innovation at UR-CST, emphasised the power of interdisciplinary research in addressing complex challenges. He highlighted the richness brought by collaboration among universities, fostering an environment of openness and creativity.
Assoc. Prof. Damien Hanyurwimfura, the project’s research lead, outlined AFRETEC’s thematic pillars and strategic goals, emphasising the importance of workshops and collaborative efforts in promoting research among African universities and private institutions.
He highlighted the project’s focus on capacity-building, training programmes, and inclusion in research and digital transformation.
There is a need to address African challenges by African University students through an inclusive digital transformation where proposed solutions are extended and applied to address a societal challenge. To solve the societal challenges of the African priority domains such as agriculture or health using inclusive digital transformation, there is a need for a collaboration effort between different universities where different expertise is required, he added.
Overall, the workshop aimed to foster deeper collaborations among AFRETEC members and private universities in Rwanda, with a focus on inclusive digital transformation and research advancement across Africa. Through shared experiences and collaborative efforts, the participants aspire to drive impactful research outcomes and address societal challenges, leaving a lasting impact on the global academic landscape.
The participants of the workshop included representatives from AFRETEC universities (University of Nairobi, American University of Cairo, University of Rwanda, University of Lagos, Carnegie Mellon University-Africa), Director of African Center of Excellences, Director of Research and Innovations at the University of Rwanda and directors of Research and Consultancy from private universities in Rwanda.