ACU roundtable: Solving global challenges through inclusive higher education
AUCKLAND PARK – The round table features speakers campaigning to widen access for disadvantaged and marginalised groups, and working with communities to solve global challenges through science.
In a statement that was released by head of marketing and communications for the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Natasha Lokhun, ACU is dedicated to building a better world through higher education, and the organisation is passionate about the transformational power of higher education.
“We champion the role of universities in addressing the world’s challenges and improving people’s lives,” said Lokhun.
Lokhun explained that through its unique network of 500 universities in over 50 countries, the ACU expands educational opportunities, enables vital research, and supports the long-term vitality of higher education. The organisation works to shape policy, strengthen capacity, convene universities across borders, and seed change through scholarship opportunities.
“The ACU is honoured that HRH The Duchess of Sussex chose to support the organisation by becoming its Patron in 2019. The Duchess has an outstanding record of promoting access to education and is aware of the impact and challenges of higher education through her own efforts to attend university,” said Lokhun.
Lokhun said that in her first official speech as the Duchess of Sussex, at ACU member the University of the South Pacific in October 2018, Her Royal Highness addressed the issue of access and equity in higher education. During the same speech, the duchess also announced two gender grants for universities in Fiji. Since then, 15 student gender champions have been trained at each of the University of the South Pacific’s campuses across 12 countries, to bring together university and local communities to tackle gender discrimination, sexual harassment, gender-based bullying, and violence. At Fiji National University, 30 female academics have been inspired and supported to take the next steps in their careers.
“Her Royal Highness will be greeted at the ACU event today by three current Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth scholars from Kenya, Ghana, and Canada currently studying at leading South African universities, and home students from the University of Johannesburg. Simon Kiongo from Kenya is studying for an MSc (Agronomy) at the University of Pretoria, Margaret McDonald from Canada, studying an MSc (Environmental and Geographical Sciences) at the University of Cape Town and Joshua Kyeremateng from Ghana, studying LLM International Commercial Law at the University of Johannesburg. They are joined by Boitumelo Mampane, a South African student studying for an MA in Communication Studies at the University of Johannesburg,” expressed Lokhun.
Lokhun explained that the Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth scholarships are a unique opportunity for Commonwealth students to learn from each other’s countries to deliver tangible results. The duchess will also announce in her speech the new Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth scholars from Tanzania, Zambia and Nigeria selected to study at the universities of Stellenbosch, Witwatersrand and Pretoria from 2020.
Lokhun said that today’s roundtable features changemakers who are advocating for gender equality and equity, campaigning to widen access for disadvantaged and marginalised groups, and working with communities to solve global challenges through science. They are students and academics from ACU member universities including the universities of Cape Town, the Free State, Johannesburg, KwaZulu-Natal, Pretoria, Rhodes, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, and Witwatersrand.
“The ACU Gender Grants boost gender equality and equity at member universities. The duchess will announce new gender grants to be awarded to the University of Johannesburg, Stellenbosch University and the University of the Western Cape. These grants will fund a programme to increase the number of women in research leadership positions; a unique campus walking route designed to encourage meaningful conversations about gender issues, and workshops to develop inclusive university policies and research practices,” added Lokhun.
The ACU will use this roundtable to inform ongoing work with its Gender Advisory Group – chaired by Prof Funmi Olonisakin, vice president and vice principal international of King’s College London, UK – to design programmes that will address the challenge of gender equity, such as a global programme to prevent gender-based violence on campuses, and ways to support girls in secondary school to study Stem degrees.
Lokhun concluded by stating that today’s roundtable is one of two ACU engagements in South Africa this week focusing on inclusive and quality education. Later this week, the ACU and Universities South Africa will launch a new report with recommendations to transform support for the research landscape in South Africa. Supporting academics early in their careers is key for South-African universities and crucial to the long-term vitality of teaching and research.
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