Set to uphold not only Africa's history and knowledge systems but also the contribution of scientific knowledge by African academics in the global knowledge arena, the Africa Charter on Transformative Research Collaborations (ACTRC) was launched on 5 July 2023 in Namibia, Windhoek, at the Association of African Universities' biennial conference of Rectors and Vice-Chancellors (COREViP). The conference was attended by multiple estimable guests comprising university presidents, vice-chancellors and various academics in the higher education sector.

Africa taking its rightful place in the global research arena

Prof Puleng Segalo, Chief Albert Luthuli Research Chair and the Africa Charter for Transformative Research Collaborations (ACTRC) co-leader

In giving context of the timeline to the collaborations, co-leader of the charter, Prof Puleng Segalo, says that ACTRC – a tripartite partnership, which began taking root in 2021 shortly after she was appointed the Chief Albert Luthuli Research Chair – is between the Research Chair, the Perivoli African Research Centre (PARC) based at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, and the Humanities Institute (HUMA) at the University of Cape Town.  

What was truly exciting for Segalo was the overwhelming support and positive feedback from all stakeholders. She explains: "For me and the team, that was a sign of the importance and timeliness of the project. Indeed, Africa must take its rightful place in the global scientific knowledge production ecosystem." 

Segalo states that the tripartite collaboration has created the opportunity to reflect and learn together, share ideas and develop the concept for the charter initiative. She remarks that the partnership involved many voices and stakeholders who offered contributions and feedback. "We are three institutions that are very different, and we each bring our expertise and institutional support into the process/project," she says.    

Reclaiming the future for Africans by Africans

At the institutional level, Segalo stated that they are currently finalising the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Unisa and the University of Bristol. She says: "We plan to have an MOU which also includes all three institutions to cement our tripartite collaboration. Beyond this, we are working on the plan of action to assist in the realisation of the principles that we set out in the charter document." She adds: "The charter is a starting point – many institutions signed up to it, and we now need to work on the programme of action that institutions need to take to achieve the set objectives." The preferred outcome, she says, "is getting to a point where there is a true transformation in the Global North-Africa research collaboration space”.

While most of Africa's research involves collaborations with Global North countries, the continent's global contribution to scientific publications accounted for less than 2% in 2018, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 

However, Segalo maintains that academic research collaborations have long favoured the Global North. She argues that since Unisa's 150 celebration theme is reclaiming African intellectual futures, this cannot be possible if continued use of unfavourable academic excellence and impact markers undermine African histories and knowledge systems.

She says: "Africa continues to be dictated to when it comes to publishing, rankings and determining what social challenges should be given attention, and this contributes to Africa being perceived as perpetually developing and having to look to the North for answers." Adding: "This is no accident – it has been designed that way by how the global knowledge systems have been configured. This project is about reclamation, which aligns with Unisa's vision and strategic objectives."

Segalo says that work is already afoot, with some reflections published in the CODESRIA Bulletin Online, No. 7, May 2023: Beyond Tinkering | CODESRIA Bulletin

#Unisa150 

* By Godfrey Madibane, Acting Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement