Call for Applications: KDU Global – IUCEA Undergraduate Full and Partial Scholarships 2026 (6th Cohort -Round 2)

 

INTRODUCTION

The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) is an institution of the East African Community (EAC) responsible for coordinating higher education development and research in the EAC region. The mission of IUCEA is to encourage and develop mutually beneficial collaborations between and among the member universities, governments, and other organizations, both public and private.

Kyungdong University (KDU) Global is a fully accredited private university in South Korea that partners with IUCEA to offer scholarships to students from EAC member countries (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, DRC, and Somalia).

We are excited to announce that the application period for KDU Global – IUCEA Scholarships 2026 is now open for students from the East African Community (EAC) member countries interested in undergraduate degree programs (English Track) for the following disciplines:

  1. Bachelor of International Business Administration
  2. Bachelor of International Hotel Management
  3. Bachelor of Smart Computing (covering Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Data Science, Cybersecurity, and IoT).
  4. Bachelor of Artificial Intelligence

The duration of the program is 4 years / 8 semesters, subject to excellent academic performance each semester of study and compliance with KDU Global internal rules and regulations.

Expected commencement of the program is March 2026.

The scholarship covers the following:

Partial Scholarships

Under Partial scholarships, Students/Parents provide their own personal expenses for  accommodation, airfare, application fee, health insurance, etc, and KDU Global waives tuition fees  for the first semester, and the subsequent semesters, depending on students’ performance as outlined below

1st Semester: Waiver of Full tuition fee of $4,000 for the first Semester (by KDU Global), subject to compliance with KDU Global internal rules and regulations.

2nd Semester Onwards:

Note: Students are allowed to work part-time while studying in South Korea. KDU GLOBAL provides part-time job assistance to all its students—over 99% of students at KDU GLOBAL have part-time jobs

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must meet the following general eligibility requirements:

SELECTION PROCESS

All applicants will be subjected to a merit-based two-stage selection process.

Stage I:

 IUCEA shall conduct the preliminary selection of candidates. Interested applicants must submit either electronic or hard copies of the following documents to the IUCEA Office in Kampala, Uganda:

  1. Statement of interest addressed to the Executive Secretary IUCEA
  2. Comprehensive curriculum vitae (CV)
  3. Academic Transcript & Certificate of Graduation
  4. A Passport Copy
  5. IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71 or higher report (we don’t accept EFSET, Duolingo, PTE.)
  6. Bank statement for at least 6 months (in compliance with the scholarship category)

All documents must be combined into one PDF file and submitted before 12 December 2025

Stage II: 

KDU Global will conduct individual assessments (interviews) and confirm the final selections. Candidates might be required to submit additional documents and designated forms if deemed necessary.

Note: Students with the best average academic and interview performance will be admitted with full scholarships. The remaining students will be offered the option to be considered for partial scholarships.

 KDU GLOBAL ADMISSION

Scholarship recipients will submit final admission documents to KDU Global as listed here: Admission>Documents Required | Kyungdong University (kduniv.ac.kr) upon receiving additional guidelines. 

For more information about KDU Global, please visit: https://www.kduglobal.ac.kr

Important Dates

No. Stages Dates
1 Submission of initial assessment documents deadline December 12, 2025
2 Interview deadline December 19, 2025
3 Documents submission deadline January 16, 2026
4 Official enrollment deadline February 20, 2026
5 Airport pick up February 23 ~ 27, 2026
6 Commencement date March 2, 2026

 

CONTACT INFORMATION

  1. Executive Secretary
    Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA)
    Kigobe Road, Plot M833, Kyambogo Area
    PO. Box 7110, Kampala
    Republic of Uganda
    Email: kdu-iucea@iucea.org

With additional enquiries regarding the KDU Global–IUCEA Scholarships 2026, please contact:

  1. Gervais NDAYIZEYE, Senior Exchange and Programmes Officer,  Email: kdu-iucea@iucea.org
  2. Prof Dr. Baseem Al-athwari, Head of Smart Computing Department, Email: baseem_cs@kduniv.ac.kr

For the application and admission process and campus information, contact: Issa, Ashrafu Rashid, Email: issa@ku-ac.com, WhatsApp: +82 10 7490 9801

CALL FOR STAFF MOBILITY UNDER IUCEA FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2025/2026

Published: 10th October 2025

Deadline: 15th November 2025

1.0 Introduction

The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) wishes to invite applicants to participate in the 2025/2026 Staff Mobility Programme in the EAC Partner States for IUCEA member universities.

The objective of the Staff Mobility Programme is to encourage the sharing of academic human resources and the exchange of knowledge, skills, and experiences in order to address challenges related to capacity gaps in member universities and enhance the attainment of outputs related to the goals of EAC as a common higher education area and regional integration. Participants in the exchange program are expected to offer their services in teaching, research, external examination, program accreditation, and community engagement.

2.0 IUCEA invite:

  1. Member universities that wish to receive visiting Staff from universities in the other EAC Partner States and
  2. Academic staff from member universities who would like to offer some or all the services under the Staff Mobility Programme to universities in the region but outside the country where the home university is located, and not in the country of nationality of the visiting staff. IUCEA Member Universities are at http//: www.iucea.org under Membership.

3.0 Duration

The Staff Mobility program under this call is for a maximum of 4 months (equivalent to one semester), ten (10) working days for External Examination, and five (5) days for program accreditation.

4.0 Eligibility

The applicants must fulfil the following criteria:

  1. A Host/Home Institution being an active member of IUCEA (paying subscription fees with not more than one (2) year of arrears).
  2. An applying staff member affiliated with an active member of the University of IUCEA.
  3. The academic staff have an academic rank of either lecturer, senior lecturer, associate professor, or professor.
  4. The Host University is a member university located in a Partner State other than the Home University, which differs from the applicant’s country of origin.
  5. Members of National Councils for Higher Education in the EAC
  6. Complete form
    FORM H- HOST UNIVERSITIES - FORM H- HOST UNIVERSITIE.docx
    		804 downloads 21-10-2025 9:20 Download 253.4 KB
    and
    FORM G- GUEST STAFF MOBILITY - FORM G- GUEST STAFF MOBILITY1.docx
    		695 downloads 21-10-2025 9:21 Download 189.7 KB
    as attached

Please use the link to choose available courses from different universities in the EAC Partner States. 

5.0 Application procedure

Applicants should adhere to the following procedures:

  1. Download and fill the relevant application forms  in section 4.0 (6), “Call for Application for Staff Mobility 2025/2026”.
  2. Fill out the online questionnaire Click here

6.0 Selection Criteria

The following will be considered while selecting the applicants:

  1. Academic qualifications (Minimum to be a Doctorate holder) and a rank of a Lecturer
  2. Compliance of host and guest universities with IUCEA membership subscription.
  3. Priority areas of study/subjects as may be set by IUCEA from time to time and
  4. Equity based on first-time beneficiaries, EAC Partner States, and universities.
  5. Availability of funds.

7.0 Contacts for Submission

The complete application forms (G and H) are attached, and the letter should be sent to

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
INTER-UNIVERSITY COUNCIL FOR EAST AFRICA
PO BOX 7110
KAMPALA,
KIGOBE ROAD, PLOT NO. M833, KYAMBOGO AREA,
Tel: +256414256251/2,

And send to :Email to: staffmobility@iucea.org and copy secrectariat@iucea.org

Universities in the EAC Partner States

FORM G- GUEST STAFF MOBILITY

The Executive Committee of IUCEA is pleased to announce that Prof. Idris A. Rai has been appointed Acting Executive Secretary, effective 1 October 2025, following the transition of Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona to his new role at the African Union as Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation. This strategic leadership appointment ensures uninterrupted momentum in advancing IUCEA’s mission during a pivotal period for regional higher education integration

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Academy will bring together senior policy‑makers, World Bank task‑team leaders and private‑sector representatives to address Africa’s skills crisis

Nairobi, 22 September 2024 –The World Bank Group is convening a high-level Africa Skills for Jobs Policy Academy to address the skills gap on the African continent.

The event, scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 30 September to 3 October 2025, will focus on sharing evidence-based approaches, examining emerging skills demands in key sectors, including agribusiness, energy, health, manufacturing, and tourism and developing actionable plans to reform technical and vocational education and training (TVET).

Organized in collaboration with the Government of Kenya and the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), the event will bring together policymakers, World Bank task team leaders, and private sector representatives to address Africa’s skills crisis.

Coinciding with the official launch of the African Continental TVET Strategy 2025–2034, the event will serve as a platform for policymakers and stakeholders to engage and co-create innovative solutions aligned with the vision of “the Africa we want.” This initiative builds on and complements existing programs, such as the East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP), that have demonstrated the impact of targeted skills development in flagship institutions.

“The Skills for Jobs Africa Policy Academy brings governments, industry, and development partners together to co-create solutions and reforms that will lay the foundation to ensure a bright future for Africa’s youth and future generations,” said Ndiame Diop, Regional Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa, The World Bank Group. “We invite policymakers, donors, and businesses to engage, invest, and partner with us to transform Africa’s skills landscape.”

The Academy will seek to address and provide solutions to systemic problems in Africa’s job market, where more than one million youth enter the labour market every month. It is estimated that up to 86 per cent of available jobs are in the informal sector. Yet, many young people lack job-relevant skills for both informal and growth priority sectors.

The Executive Secretary, Inter-University Council for East Africa, Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, pointed out that persistent system-level challenges, such as limited funding, fragmentation of training provision, weak coordination with industry, poor foundational skills, a mismatch between training content and actual job requirements, and lack of effective career guidance and job matching platforms, served to undermine the responsiveness of skilling systems to evolving labour market needs.

“Africa’s youth need hands on and quality technical and vocational education to thrive in a rapidly changing labour market. TVET can be a catalyst for economic growth and social inclusion when aligned with industry demands,” said Prof. Banyankimbona.

With global megatrends such as digitalisation, Artificial Intelligence, Green skills and climate change reshaping the future of work, the Academy will underscore the urgency of demand-driven, inclusive, and high-quality skills systems that can support upskilling, reskilling, and lifelong learning for diverse groups, including youth, women in both formal and informal sectors.

Ends

For further information, please contact:

Godwin Bonge Muhwezi,

Inter-University Council for East Africa

Email: gmuhwezi@iucea.org   

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

ABOUT THE WORLD BANK GROUP

The World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of financial and technical assistance to developing countries. It is Made up of five institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). It works with partners in more than 100 countries to reduce poverty, promote sustainable development, and foster inclusive growth. Its mission is to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity on a liveable planet.

ABOUT IUCEA

The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) is an institution of the East African Community (EAC), established by the IUCEA Act 2009. IUCEA provides a platform for networking among universities in East Africa and beyond, serving as a forum for dialogue on higher education matters in the region. Its mandate is to advise EAC Partner States on higher education and works to ensure internationally comparable education standards that enhance the region’s competitiveness. Membership is open to universities, university colleges, and degree-awarding institutions duly incorporated in any EAC Partner States.

Skills for Economic Transformation and Jobs (SET4Jobs) in Eastern and Southern Africa MPA Program

(P510027)

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP)

Appraisal

September 2025

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN

  1. The Inter-University Council of East Africa (IUCEA) (the Recipient) will implement the Skills for Economic Transformation and Jobs (SET4Jobs) in Eastern and Southern Africa MPA Program (the Project), as set out in the Grant Agreement. The International Development Association (the Association) has agreed to provide financing for the Project, as set out in Agreement.
  2. The Recipient shall ensure that the Project is carried out in accordance with the Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs) and this Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), in a manner acceptable to the Association. The ESCP is a part of the Unless otherwise defined in this ESCP, capitalized terms used in this ESCP have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement.
  3. Without limitation to the foregoing, ESCP sets out material measures and actions that the Recipient shall carry out or cause to be carried out, including, as applicable, their respective timeframes; institutional, staffing, training, monitoring and reporting arrangements; and grievance management. The ESCP also sets out the environmental and social (E&S) documents that shall be prepared, consulted, disclosed and implemented under the Project, consistent with the ESSs, in form and substance acceptable to the Association. Said E&S documents may be revised from time to time with prior written agreement by the Association. As provided under the referred Agreement, the Recipient shall ensure that there are sufficient funds available to cover the costs of implementing ESCP.
  4. As agreed by the Association and the Recipient, this ESCP will be revised from time to time, if necessary, to reflect adaptive management of Project changes or unforeseen circumstances or in response to Project performance. In such circumstances, the Association and the Recipient agree to update the ESCP to reflect these changes through an exchange of letters signed between the Association and the Recipient’s Representative specified in the Agreement. The Recipient shall promptly disclose the updated ESCP.
  5. The subsection on “Indicators for Implementation Readiness” below identifies the actions and measures to be monitored to assess Project readiness to begin implementation in accordance with this ESCP. Nevertheless, all actions and measures in this ESCP shall be implemented as set out in the “Timeframe” column below irrespective of whether they are listed in the referred subsection.
    MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY
    IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS AND CAPACITY SUPPORT
    A ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

    Establish and maintain an organizational structure with qualified staff and resources to support management of E&S risks and impacts of the Project including the appointment of a dedicated Environmental and Social Risk Management Specialist as part of the PIU at IUCEA, in a manner that is satisfactory to the Association.

    		 Establish a PIU and Hire or appoint the Environmental and Social Risk Management Specialist prior to Project Effectiveness and thereafter maintain the PIU and these positions throughout Project implementation.

     

    		  

    IUCEA
    B CAPACITY BUILDING PLAN/MEASURES

    Prepare and implement the following capacity building measures:

    • Training for PIU staff, stakeholders, communities, Project workers, consultants on stakeholder mapping and engagement, specific aspects of environmental and social assessment, labor and working conditions, community health and safety, incident reporting and management, grievance management and SEA/SH. 
    		 Required capacity building and training to commence within 3 months after project effectiveness, and continue throughout Project implementation, with refresher training undertaken on a quarterly basis where applicable.

     

    		  

    IUCEA
    MONITORING AND REPORTING
    C REGULAR REPORTING

    Prepare and submit to the Bank regular monitoring reports on the environmental, social, health and safety (E&S) performance of the Project. The reports shall include:

    •  Status of preparation and implementation of E&S documents required under this ESCP.
    •  Summary of stakeholder engagement activities carried out as per the Stakeholder Engagement Plan.
    • Complaints submitted to the grievance mechanism(s), the grievance log, and progress made in resolving them.  
    • Number and status of resolution of incidents and accidents reported under action E below.
    		  

    Submit quarterly reports to the Association throughout Project implementation, commencing after the Effective Date. Submit each report to the Association no later than 15 days after the end of each reporting period.

     

     

    		  

    IUCEA
    E INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS

    Notify the Bank of any incident or accident relating to the project which has, or is likely to have, a significant adverse effect on the environment, communities, the public or workers, including those resulting in death or significant injury to workers or the public; acts of violence, discrimination or protest; unforeseen impacts to cultural heritage or biodiversity resources; pollution of the environment; dam failure; forced or child labor; displacement without due process (forced eviction); allegations of sexual exploitation or abuse (SEA), or sexual harassment (SH); or disease outbreaks. Provide available details of the incident or accident to the Bank upon request.

    Arrange for an appropriate review of the incident or accident to establish its immediate, underlying and root causes.  Prepare, agree with the Bank, and implement a Corrective Action Plan that sets out the measures and actions to be taken to address the incident or accident and prevent their re-occurrence.

    		  

    Notify Association no later than 48 hours after learning of the incident or accident. Provide available details upon request.

     

    Provide review report and Corrective Action Plan to the Association no later than 10 days following the submission of the initial notice, unless a different timeframe is agreed to in writing by the Association.

    		  

    IUCEA

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    IUCEA
    ESS 1:  ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS AND IMPACTS
    1.1 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

    Carry out the consultancy, studies, capacity building, training, and any other technical assistance activities under the Project in accordance with terms of reference acceptable to the Association, that are consistent with the ESSs. Thereafter prepare and finalize the output of such activities in compliance with the terms of reference.

    		 Throughout Project implementation

     

    		  

    IUCEA

     
    ESS 2:  LABOR AND WORKING CONDITIONS 
    2.1 LABOR MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES

    Prepare and implement the Labor Management Procedures (LMP) for the Project as part of the Operations Manual

    		 Prepare the LMP mechanism no later than 30 days after the Effective Date and thereafter implement the LMP throughout Project implementation.  

    IUCEA
    2.2 GRIEVANCE MECHANISM FOR PROJECT WORKERS

    Establish and operate a grievance mechanism for Project workers, as described in the LMP and consistent with ESS2. 

     

    		 Establish grievance mechanism prior engaging Project workers and thereafter maintain and operate it throughout Project implementation

     

    		 IUCEA
    ESS 3: RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT
    3.1 Relevant aspects of these standards shall be considered in the technical assistance activities under action 1.1. above, as relevant. Same timeframe as for action 1.1. IUCEA
    ESS 4: COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY
    4.1 SEA AND SH RISKS

    Prepare and implement a SEA/SH Action Plan as part of the LMP, to assess and manage the risks of SEA and SH.

    		 Same timeframe as for the preparation and implementation of the LMP IUCEA
    ESS 5-9: COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY
      Relevant aspects of these standards shall be considered in the technical assistance activities under action 1.1. above, as relevant. Same timeframe as for action 1.1. IUCEA
    ESS 10: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
    10.1 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN

    Prepare, adopt and implement a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) for the IUCEA operation, consistent with ESS10, which shall include measures to, inter alia, provide stakeholders with timely, relevant, understandable and accessible information, and consult with them in a culturally appropriate manner, which is free of manipulation, interference, coercion, discrimination and intimidation.

    		 Prepare the SEP prior to Appraisal and thereafter implement the SEP throughout Program implementation.

     

     

    		  

    IUCEA
    10.2 PROJECT GRIEVANCE MECHANISM

    Develop , publicize, maintain, and operate an accessible grievance mechanism, to receive and facilitate resolution of concerns and grievances in relation to IUCEA’s operation under the program, promptly and effectively, in a transparent manner that is culturally appropriate and readily accessible to all Project-affected parties, at no cost and without retribution, including concerns and grievances filed anonymously, in a manner consistent with ESS10.  

    The grievance mechanism shall be equipped to receive, register, and facilitate the management of SEA/SH complaints, through the referral of survivors to relevant gender-based violence service providers, all in a safe, confidential, and survivor-centered manner.

     

    		 Establish the grievance mechanism no later than 30 days after the Effective Date and thereafter maintain and operate the mechanism throughout Project implementation.

     

     

     

    		  

     

     

    IUCEA
    INDICATORS FOR IMPLEMENTATION READINESS [This subsection lists the ESCP actions (by their numbering in the first column of the ESCP) that are identified as relevant to monitor project readiness from an E&S standpoint. These may include actions related to: i) establishment of E&S risk management units in the Project Implementation Entities, ii) recruitment and training of E&S staff within Project Implementation Entities, iii) Memorandums of Understanding or other written agreements/arrangements between Project Implementation Entities and other concerned agencies to ensure proper coordination of E&S risk management activities; iv) E&S effectiveness or disbursement conditions, if deemed warranted, v) ES assessments and plans to be prepared by the Borrower at the onset of implementation; vi) other project-specific requirements related to E&S readiness for implementation].
    The following actions are indicators of implementation readiness

    i) Prepare and disclose the SEP, LMP and SEA/SH Action Plan
     ii) Establish the grievance mechanism
     iii) Develop E&S monitoring and reporting templates
     iv) Train PIU staff on E&S

 

The bidder named below has been evaluated as the best evaluated bidder for the procurement requirements detailed below. It is the intention of IUCEA to place a contract with the bidder named after 14 calendar days from the date of display given below.

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Project Name: Skills for Economic Transformation and Jobs (SET4Jobs) in Eastern and Southern Africa MPA Program (P510027)

Project Description

The overall objective of the MPA Program Phase 1, is to facilitate regional collaboration and coordination to promote excellence in skills development, tertiary education, applied research, and incubation for the jobs of the future.

By fostering regional collaboration, the MPA seeks to encourage specialization and strengthen partnerships, ensuring that all participating countries benefit from access to high-quality, job-oriented skills and education programs in priority sectors. Enhancing the capacity for regionally relevant research and innovation is anticipated to contribute to the development of new sectors, products, and process innovations in partnership with the private sector, ultimately leading to the creation of more and better-quality jobs. The knowledge and innovation generated through applied research supported by the SET4Jobs MPA will be applicable and available for implementation, innovation, and commercialization across the entire region.

The regional platform for collaboration in tertiary education, research, innovation and incubation will be implemented by the Inter-University Council of East Africa (IUCEA). IUCEA will support the coordination, implementation, and monitoring of the SET4Jobs MPA Program across all involved national and regional projects, including the regional African Centers of Excellence-Futures (ACE-Futures) project. IUCEA will establish a regional platform for academic, private-sector, and innovation networking; knowledge sharing; and the development of regional public goods to promote regional cooperation and integration.

Additionally, the MPA places strong emphasis on addressing persistent gender imbalances in tertiary education and innovation systems by fostering a more gender-responsive ecosystem. This includes setting equity targets, prioritizing women in scholarships and mobility programs, and strengthening mentorship and leadership pathways for women, particularly in STEM and innovation fields.  

For the proper implementation of the project, a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) together with the Grievance Redress Mechanisms has been accordingly drafted. Key stakeholders have already been engaged in the designing of the project to ensure seamless implementation.

Find below the draft SEP for the MPA program.

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN (SEP)

Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP)

 

29th July 2025, Kinshasa-The 16th Annual Meeting and Conference of the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) is currently taking place in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. This year’s theme is “Reflections on Global Higher Education Trends and Their Implications for the EAC Higher Education Landscape.”

The conference has brought together a diverse group of participants, including University Vice-Chancellors, Presidents, Provosts, Rectors, and Principals, as well as Government Officials involved in Higher Education, EAC Leadership, Education Policy Makers, Industry Representatives, Researchers and Scholars, Higher Education Experts, Development Partners in Higher Education, student representatives, and members of the media.

The conference key objectives: first, to analyze emerging trends in higher education and their implications for the East African Common Higher Education Area; second, to discuss strategies and action points aimed at integrating micro-credentials, artificial intelligence (AI), and transdisciplinary approaches into a harmonized and quality-assured higher education system in the region; and third, to foster dialogue, knowledge exchange, networking, and collaboration among stakeholders in higher education to encourage strategic partnerships.

The Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), Her Excellency Veronica M. Nduva, emphasized that the EAC is built on a clear vision of a peaceful, prosperous, and integrated region. The EAC treaty signed on November 30, 1999, provides the framework guiding our collective journey.

Her Excellency also outlined the pillars of regional integration, including the customs union, Common Market, Monetary Union, and ultimately, political integration. She emphasized that these pillars are supported by a strong cooperative infrastructure in areas such as trade, health, agriculture, and, most importantly, education.

 Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, IUCEA Executive Secretary, stated that across the world, universities are confronting new realities brought about by the rise of artificial intelligence, the expansion of digital and remote learning, the increasing demand for micro-credentials and flexible skills-based education, and the growing appeal of transdisciplinary approaches to solving complex societal problems. These developments are redefining what it means to educate, to research, and to collaborate. There is an urgent need to reimagine how higher education is delivered, assessed, and connected to societal needs.

For the East African Community (EAC), these trends present both opportunities and challenges as the region seeks to strengthen its Common Higher Education Area and enhance quality, relevance, equity, and mobility.

For more information, please contact Gai P. Manyuon, Corporate Communications and Public Relations Officer at the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA). Email: gmanyuon@iucea.org Mobile: +256-700421986

The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) is an institution of the East African Community (EAC). According to Articles 5 and 102 of the EAC Treaty, the IUCEA is mandated to advise Partner States and to develop and coordinate all matters related to higher education and university research.

26th June, Arusha, Tanzania – The first East African Community Academic and Research Network for Regional Integration (EACARNRI) conference is currently underway in Arusha, Tanzania. This landmark event, organized by the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) in collaboration with the East African Community Academic Research Network for Regional Integration and the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, brings together scholars and experts from East African Community Partner States to engage in critical discussions about their contribution to the EAC regional integration.

The conference will cover essential topics related to the core pillars of the East African Community, including the Customs Union, Common Market, Monetary Union, and the ultimate Political Federation. With a theme focused on “The Role of Academics and Researchers in East African Community Integration,” the event aims to leverage the collective knowledge of leading academics and researchers to enhance understanding and their contribution to the EAC integration process.

The significance of this conference cannot be overstated. As the region faces various socio-economic challenges, the insights provided by researchers and academics are invaluable. Scholars will present evidence-based solutions that can profoundly influence policy reforms, decisions and expedite the integration process. This engagement is particularly important, as the academic community’s voice has historically been underrepresented in discussions about regional integration.

“The East African Community Academic and Research Network for Regional Integration represents a transformative step towards integrating academic expertise into the EAC framework,” said Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, Executive Secretary of IUCEA. “Our goal is to leverage the knowledge of scholars to support the socio-economic development of the region through collaborative research and skill development.”

This conference comes at a crucial time when EAC stakeholders are taking stock and reflecting on the milestones achieved on the EAC regional integration and determining the best path forward in enhancing the regional integration. “Through EACARNRI, we are closely examining our performance in areas such as trade, the common market, movement of people, goods and services, financial matters, and ultimately, political unity,” stated Prof. Banyankimbona.

The role of academics and researchers is crucial as emphasised that the mission of  EACARNRI is to broaden expertise, opinions, consultations, and academic knowledge in economic, political, social, and cultural matters in order to facilitate the realization of a full customs union, common market, monetary union, and political integration in the East African region, as noted by Vice President Prof. Solomon Muchwa Asiimwe.

In conclusion, the EACARNRI conference is not just an academic gathering; it is a vital call to action for scholars and researchers to play a pivotal role in the EAC’s journey towards the regional integration process.

For more information, please contact:

Gai P. Manyuon 

Corporate Communications and Public Relations Officer 

Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) 

Email: gmanyuon@iucea.org 

Mobile: +256-700421986

THEME: The Role of Academics and Researchers in East African Community Integration

VENUE: Arusha, Tanzania

DATE:    26th – 27th June 2025

Background Information

The East African Community Academic and Research Network for Regional Integration (EACARNRI) was launched on June 23, 2023, in Kigali, Rwanda, thanks to the efforts of the Inter University Council of East Africa and the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence.  The launch of the Network signified a new dawn in tapping the expertise of academics and researchers in the acceleration of the East African regional integration process for socio-economic development of the Region. The need for the launch of EACARNRI was premised on the fact that the voice of academics and researchers in regional integration has been lacking in the EAC integration process. This is despite the fact that they can play an instrumental role in accelerating the East African integration process by informing policy decisions through cutting edge research and training the human resources with the necessary skills to tackle the challenges of the region. This being the case, the EACARNRI has organized its first International Conference focusing on the theme ‘The Role of Academics and Researchers in East African Community Integration’.

Theme of the Conference

The theme of the conference is: ‘The Role of Academics and Researchers in East African Community Integration’.

The papers can focus generally on the EAC integration process or any area in the following four conference sub-themes or be from the cross-cutting sub-theme. The four sub-themes are the fundamental pillars of the EAC.

Custom Union

Common Market

Monetary Union

Political Federation

Cross-cutting sub-theme

Participants:

The International Conference is open to academics, researchers, security and regional integration experts, EAC officials and government officials from the EAC partner states.

Important dates

Milestone Date
Abstract Submission Deadline 5th June 2025
Notification of Acceptance 15th June 2025
Full Paper Submission 20th June 2025
Conference Dates 26th June 2025

Call for papers

Interested researchers, policy makers, EAC officials, academics, researchers, experts, security and regional integration experts and diplomats are invited to submit papers in reference to the theme and sub-themes to the following to  eacarnri@iucea.org.

For more information visit. www.iucea.org/eacarnri/ 

Registration
 

 

ACCRA, April 7, 2025 – About 500 participants, including more than 80 Africa Higher Education Centers of Excellence (ACEs), policy makers, higher education leaders, industry experts, and development partners have gathered in Accra, Ghana, from April 7 to 9, for a three-day celebration marking the tenth anniversary of the ACE program, a transformative journey in Africa’s higher education. This milestone recognizes a decade of strengthening Africa’s higher education, fostering regional integration, improving industry linkages and driving meaningful impact on Africa’s development. Participants will seize the opportunity to share success stories, discuss emerging challenges, and engage stakeholders in charting a future where Africa’s higher education sector continues to build on its current gains and scales its contributions to the continent’s economic growth and social development.

The celebration of this key milestone is marked by the presence of His Excellency John Mahama Dramani, the President of the Republic Ghana, who presided the opening ceremony.

“The ACE Program has emerged as a model of distinction, fostering innovation, nurturing world-class expertise, and strengthening institutional capacities in critical sectors,” said His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama. “The ACE journey is a reminder that the future of higher education in Africa –and indeed globally—does not lie in working alone. It lies in uniting our efforts to unlock talent, transfer knowledge, and build a resilient workforce to drive sustainable development across Africa”.

Over the past decade, the Program has trained the next generation of Africa’s highly-skilled workforce, upskilled the existing workforce and significantly transformed scientific research in higher education across Africa, establishing over 80 ACEs in more than 50 universities across 20 countries, and enrolling more than 90,000 students, including 7,650 PhDs and 30,200 master’s degree students, with 32% women. The program has raised teaching and learning standards through equipping modern facilities with cutting-edge technologies; and has met global benchmarks in academic excellence with over 130 internationally accredited programs and more than 600 nationally accredited programs. Additionally, the ACEs have developed solutions and innovations, with more than 10,350 internationally peer-reviewed publications tailored to Africa’s and global challenges. The ACEs are distinguished by their regional specialization, taking advantage of economies of scale, fostering cross-border collaborations among universities, and bringing students from various countries together to undertake research in specific regional issues, including in agriculture, ICT, energy, engineering, environment, health, mining, transport and logistics, urban development, water, etc.

Speaking about the future of the Program, President Mahama declared: “The prospects for the ACE Program are bright. The demand for research-led solutions, skilled professionals, and regionally relevant innovations continues to grow across the continent. By aligning academic work with national and regional development goals, and by fostering innovation-driven partnerships, we can properly position the centers to remain vibrant and impactful well into the future”.

“The global development challenges we face today, with the confluence of interconnected crises ranging from environmental challenges, health pandemics, to economic instability and geopolitical tensions, call for strategic investment and innovative solutions, with human capital development at the forefront,” said Ousmane Diagana, World Bank’s Vice-president for Western and Central Africa. “The ACE Program has laid the foundation for a knowledge-driven economy, and we must double our efforts to continue the transformation they have started. Let us continue to empower Africa’s brightest minds to learn, lead, innovate, and drive our continent’s transformation from within.”

The ACE is a flagship regional program launched in 2014. It is the first large-scale World Bank-funded regional project in the higher education sector in Africa, with a total financing of $657 million.  The program also benefitted from a $72 million co-financing from the French Development Agency, AFD. Its regional coordination and knowledge-sharing activities are implemented by valued partners, including the Association of African Universities (AAU) and the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA).

“The ACE program has significantly transformed higher education across Africa, equipping institutions with the resources, capacity, and networks needed to drive world-class research and innovation,” said Professor Olusola Oyewole, Secretary General of the AAU. “It has proven to be a model for regional collaboration, fostering knowledge exchange and research excellence across borders. As we celebrate ten years of impact, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening Africa’s higher education ecosystem and, we are also presented with an opportunity to invest in Africa’s higher education to sustain and expand the ACE accomplishments.”

For Professor Gaspard Banyankimbona, Executive Secretary of the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA): “The program has been a catalyst for transformative change in East and Southern Africa, driving innovation, fostering university-industry collaborations, and empowering future leaders (especially women) through scholarships, incubation centers, research and innovation, and capacity building. Its impact on higher education, regional integration, and development underscores the importance of strategic partnerships in shaping Africa’s sustainable future which lies in its capacity to innovate, educate, and collaborate. The African Higher Education Centers of Excellence have been and will continue to be central to this vision.”

The three-day event is co-organized by the government of Ghana, the Association of African Universities, and the Inter-University Council for East Africa, in collaboration with the World Bank.

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