The event which took place on Thursday, June 23, 2022 brought together University of Toronto Africanists, partners, and the diplomatic community to share U of Toronto’s strategic framework for Africa. It was held under the theme:  University of Toronto & Africa: Partnership for Mutual Excellence and Inclusive Impact.  Areas discussed include emerging African priorities from the perspective of African participants, as well as exploring deeper engagement with the continent.

Welcoming the participants, Professor Wisdom Tettey, University of Toronto’s Chair of the Presidential International Council for Africa and Vice President, set the scene for the discussions. He emphasized the need to pursue equitable partnerships. Professor Cheryl Regehr, Provost of University of Toronto, expressed her university’s commitment to the initiative.

Professor Joe Wong, Vice-President, International, University of Toronto delivered the Opening Remarks.  The Keynote Presentation: Global Higher Education Partnerships and Africa’s Future: Principles and Actions for Mutual Success was delivered by Professor Paul Tiyambe Zeleza, former Vice Chancellor of the United States International University Africa, Kenya; Associate Provost and North Star Distinguished Professor, Case Western Reserve University, United States Research Partnerships, Entrepreneurship and University of Toronto-Africa Innovation Ecosystem. 

Professor Ernest Aryeetey, Secretary‐General, African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and Professor Joe Wong facilitated the session on Research Partnerships, focusing on specific ideas on identifying areas of common scholarly interest for building research partnerships, ways to encourage joint publications, ways to support training for graduate students and joint funding opportunities and related grant management.

Other topics covered included Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Talent Enhancement, Mobility, and Networks, University of Toronto-Africa Global Classrooms, Co-Learning & Next Generation of Leaders, among others. 

The event is also expected to enable participants to strengthen existing partnerships, build momentum for emerging initiatives, support new partnerships, and amplify mutual connections and linkages.