The University of Cape Town (UCT), the University of South Africa (Unisa), and the University of Bristol have taken the Africa Charter for Transformative Research Collaborations to its next phase with the launch of an implementation framework. This development occurred during the Times Higher Education (THE) World Academic Summit 2026, co-hosted by UCT and Bristol in Cape Town from September 29 to October 1. The summit brought together leaders from higher education, government, business, and civil society.
The inaugural Africa Charter Signatories Forum: Towards a Community of Action was held to launch the Charter's implementation framework and agree on the next phase of collective action. The forum aimed to move the Charter from a broad-based community of interest to an active global community committed to embedding transformative principles in research collaboration. As part of the initiative, UCT, Unisa, and Bristol signed an agreement committing the institutions to coordinate support for the Charter and advance its implementation internationally.
The Africa Charter was launched on July 5, 2023, in Windhoek, Namibia, during the African Association of Universities' Conference of Rectors, Vice-Chancellors and Presidents. It was developed through the Perivoli Africa Research Centre at Bristol, the Chief Albert Luthuli Research Chair at Unisa, and UCT's Institute for the Humanities in Africa. The Charter seeks to address power imbalances in global knowledge production and promote more equitable international research collaborations.
According to the University of Bristol, around 140 universities and organisations have become signatories to the Charter. UCT spokesperson Elijah Moholola stated that the partnership would redress unjust power imbalances in global knowledge production, advance intellectual leadership and scholarship, and implement and centre the Africa Charter as a transformative instrument for international academic, cultural, and educational research collaborations globally.
The Africa Charter forum was part of the wider THE World Academic Summit, held under the theme "Knowledge, justice and futures: Universities in the age of intelligence". University of Bristol Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Evelyn Welch expressed delight in co-hosting the summit with UCT, bringing together diverse perspectives from across the world. She emphasized that strong local partnerships, shared ambition, and a commitment to creating lasting public value are essential in addressing global challenges.
The summit featured several notable speakers, including Lord Marvin Rees, former Mayor of Bristol and a Labour peer, who joined Cape Town Executive Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis for a panel discussion on the role of universities as civic institutions. South African Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela also participated in the summit, discussing the future of university-government partnerships and the role of higher education in building research and innovation ecosystems.
UCT and Unisa also signed a bilateral agreement on September 30 to strengthen strategic higher education cooperation in training, science, research, and innovation. This agreement aims to foster collaboration between the two institutions, enhancing their capacity to address global challenges and promote academic excellence.
Key points
- The University of Cape Town, Unisa, and Bristol have launched an implementation framework for the Africa Charter for Transformative Research Collaborations.
- The Charter aims to address power imbalances in global knowledge production and promote more equitable international research collaborations.
- Around 140 universities and organisations have become signatories to the Charter.
