This volume is the result of the third phase of the data gathering an benchmarking project, which was funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. It presents a synopsis of the findingsof the first three rounds of data gathering from ARUA universities over nine years, from 2015 to 2023.
The Guild and ARUA are delighted to introduce the latest addition to the Africa-Europe Clusters of Research Excellence (CoRE): the CoRE in Integrative Conservation Biology Research and Training. The new CoRE answers a call from over 200 researchers on both continents to safeguard Eastern Africa’s biodiversity amid climate change, while addressing local community needs.
Professor Francesco Petruccione is a theoretical physicist and academic leader, currently holding the position of Professor of Quantum Computing at Stellenbosch University and serving as Director of the National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences (NITheCS). He co-leads the Africa-Europe Cluster of Research Excellence (CoRE) on Artificial Intelligence, fostering collaboration across continents in advanced research domains. Prof. Petruccione pursued his studies in Physics at the University of Freiburg, Germany, where he obtained his PhD in 1988 and the prestigious Habilitation (Dr. rer. nat. habil.) in 1994. His distinguished career includes a long tenure as Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), where he also served as Pro Vice-Chancellor for Big Data and Informatics, and as Deputy Director of the National Institute for Theoretical Physics (NITheP). Additionally, he has held adjunct appointments internationally and sits on editorial boards such as “Open Systems and Information Dynamics”.
Professor Sarah Ssali is the newly appointed First Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) at Makerere University, making her only the second woman in the institution’s century-long history to hold this office. A distinguished social scientist with a PhD in International Health Studies from Queen Margaret University, Scotland, Professor Ssali also holds a Master’s in Gender Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from Makerere University. Since joining Makerere in 2003, she has made significant contributions as a lecturer, Dean of the School of Women and Gender Studies, Director of the Institute of Gender and Development Studies, and through leadership roles within governing and advisory boards. Renowned for her research on public policy, health systems, HIV/AIDS, post-conflict settings, and marginalized groups, Professor Ssali has published widely and influenced academic discourse in these areas. In her new role, she aims to strengthen the research-teaching nexus at Makerere, fostering high-quality, relevant, and globally competitive graduates who will drive Africa’s transformation.
Prof Francis W Petersen is a visionary leader in the South African higher education sector and the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria. He has previously held esteemed positions as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Free State and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Cape Town. Prof Petersen holds a PhD in Engineering from Stellenbosch University. His international speaking engagements include prominent conferences worldwide, contributing to the global discourse on higher education and research. Currently, he is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Universities South Africa (USAf).
Dr Kwezi Mzilikazi is Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships at Rhodes University, providing strategic leadership in research, innovation, postgraduate performance, and global partnerships. A Zoologist by training with a PhD in evolutionary physiology, she has a deep interest in human capacity development to advance South Africa’s knowledge economy. She has previously held leadership roles at Nelson Mandela University and the National Research Foundation. Dr Mzilikazi serves on the Presidential PhD Programme advisory group, is Deputy Chair of South Africa’s National Governing Council of the International Science Council, and a lifetime member of the Zoological Society of Southern Africa.
Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, PhD, FGA, is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana. She is a Professor of Linguistics and an experienced university administrator, with over 22 years of experience in the higher education sector. Professor Amfo previously served as the Pro Vice-Chancellor with responsibility for Academic and Student Affairs, the Dean of the School of Languages, and the Head of the Department of Linguistics, of the same university. She is the Vice-Chairman of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA). Prof. Amfo is a Partnership Board member of the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) and a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities Governing Board.
Since September 2023, Dr. Laurent Bochereau works as research and innovation counsellor at the EU Delegation to the African Union where he contributes to strengthen EU-AU cooperation in the areas of higher education, research and innovation.
He gained a Laureate from the Ecole Polytechnique, a Master’s degree from the University of California and a PhD from the University of Paris Sorbonne. After several years working as a research project leader at INRAE, he served two years in the French Ministry for Research. He joined the European Commission in 1995 where he occupied several middle management positions and had several postings in the EU Delegations in Washington, Beijing and Moscow.
Professor Samuel Tshehla is a distinguished academic administrator and mathematician, currently serving as the Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Strategy, Global and Corporate Affairs at Stellenbosch University, a role he assumed in February 2025. Prior to this, he served with distinction as the Dean of the Faculty of Military Science (Military Academy) at Stellenbosch University from 2012 to early 2025, providing strategic leadership over teaching, research, talent management, and internationalization initiatives. Professor Tshehla holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematical Sciences (1997), an Honours in Applied Mathematics (1999), and a Master’s in Applied Mathematics (2001) from the University of the North (now University of Limpopo). In 2009, he completed a PhD in Industrial Mathematics at the University of Cape Town, specializing in fluid dynamics, and most recently earned an MBA in Executive Management from UCT in 2025. His career began as a junior lecturer in Applied Mathematics, followed by an appointment at the Department of Water Affairs as a flood frequency analyst, before joining the Military Academy as lecturer and later Secundus Dean.
