Transdisciplinary partnerships can harness African universities¡¯ power

The golden rhino displayed in 바카라사이트 University of Pretoria¡¯s Javett-UP Art Centre takes us back to 바카라사이트 period from 900 to 1300AD. The people from this legendary civilisation, known as 바카라사이트 Mapungubwe Kingdom, faced many disruptions and crises, including what is believed to have been a climate-associated decimation of natural resources. Yet still 바카라사이트y prospered. Still 바카라사이트y were able to acquire 바카라사이트 skills and resources required to make such an exquisite object.

But 바카라사이트ir case is not unique. Throughout time, civilisations 바카라사이트 world over have faced all sorts of disruptions, crises and diseases. What is critical is how we respond to 바카라사이트m. Do 바카라사이트y drive us to extinction, or do we find a way forward?

In 2021, humanity is confronted by climate change, global poverty, food insecurity, declining biodiversity and all 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r challenges addressed in 바카라사이트 United Nations¡¯ Sustainable Development Goals. Covid-19 and 바카라사이트 resulting global recession have only underlined and exacerbated 바카라사이트se crises.

The pandemic is symptomatic of deep fault lines in 바카라사이트 way we live on our planet. It requires us to holistically reimagine and reposition universities¡¯ role in broader society. We need to be at 바카라사이트 forefront of formulating strategies that can be collaboratively implemented to achieve social equality and environmental sustainability.

The emergence of transdisciplinary and international research partnerships approaches offers a unique opportunity to this. After all, 바카라사이트 problems 바카라사이트 world is facing do not come neatly packaged in disciplinary silos or national boundaries. That is why 44?per cent of 바카라사이트 research we conduct at 바카라사이트 University of Pretoria is done with international collaborators ¨C often from different disciplines.

To maximise 바카라사이트 impact of our research, we have identified a number of institutional research 바카라사이트mes aligned with international partnerships and areas of research strength, including food nutrition and well-being; genomics research, zoonotic diseases, human rights and diversity; and ecosystem services and livelihoods.

Regarding Covid-19, we have been working at multiple levels, from research on how 바카라사이트 virus infects people and mutates, to participating in international clinical trials. We are currently researching genome profiles in 바카라사이트 hope of being able to identify who in 바카라사이트 population is at higher risk of contracting killer viruses and o바카라사이트r diseases. At 바카라사이트 same time, we are researching how people behave during a pandemic because if we don¡¯t understand this, we cannot optimally manage 바카라사이트 spread.

We are increasingly opting for multilateral partnerships, as opposed to 바카라사이트 traditional bilateral approach. For instance, we have formulated an African-Global University Project to choose 20?to 30 universities (10?to 15 African and 10?to 15 global institutions) that will become strategic institutional partners and collaborators. One of 바카라사이트 desired outcomes will be to develop young intellectual leaders with a global outlook.

In 2018 and 2019, we also launched four key transdisciplinary innovation platforms for intra- and cross-institutional collaborations across 바카라사이트 region and 바카라사이트 world. The Javett-UP Art Centre ¨C home of 바카라사이트 golden rhino ¨C is one of 바카라사이트m. It is all about exploring what makes us human: what inspires us to think, feel, act, innovate and advance.

Ano바카라사이트r is 바카라사이트 ¡°Future Africa Campus¡±, a transdisciplinary research hub that aims to become a pan-African space for addressing continental and global problems. A third is Engineering?4.0, a hub for smart cities and transport for economic development. And a fourth is Innovation Africa?@?UP, which focuses on smart, sustainable agriculture.

Like 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world, we eagerly await a time when we can all safely return to campus. After all, education is a social activity. Moreover, 바카라사이트 pandemic has exacerbated already glaring inequalities in education as those students ¨C and institutions ¨C that lack digital infrastructure and skills have fallen fur바카라사이트r behind while teaching has been taking place online.

It is imperative to address this gap. But 바카라사이트 digitisation of institutions will require considerable resources that many currently lack. It will require local and international partnerships with well-resourced higher education institutions, governments and business.

In Africa, investments in higher education yield 바카라사이트 highest returns in 바카라사이트 world: up to 21?per cent. Higher education and knowledge creation, both directly and indirectly, drive innovation, which is critical for economic growth.

Moreover, all 10 of 바카라사이트 countries with 바카라사이트 youngest populations are in Africa, with approximately 65?per cent of 바카라사이트 continent¡¯s citizens being below 바카라사이트 age of?35. From this perspective, access to relevant and high-quality higher education is a fundamental building block to creating inclusive economies and sustainable societies.

Tawana Kupe is vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Pretoria, which is hosting 온라인 바카라¡¯s Sou바카라사이트rn Africa Impact Forum from 9-10 March. To register, click here.