KIWi Connect: Strengthening Equitable Academic Partnerships – Insights from the Africa Charter for Transformative Research Collaborations

Amidst ongoing debates about equitable partnerships, established models of international higher education cooperation are being reimagined to promote more inclusive and balanced collaboration globally. Organised by the DAAD Centre for International Academic Cooperation (KIWi), this event highlights the crucial role of equity in academic partnerships and presents the African Charter for Transformative Research Collaborations as a practical tool for nurturing epistemic diversity and shared responsibility.

Developed collaboratively by African and international higher education stakeholders, the Africa Charter provides a framework for equitable and sustainable research collaboration based on shared responsibility, plurality and mutual visibility in global academic exchange. Several German institutions, including the Berlin University Alliance (BUA) and CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security, have already signed the Charter and will contribute insights from their own collaborative practice.

What to expect?

The significance and layered nature of equitable partnerships in the global academic context

The origins and development of the African Charter, as well as its relevance to African-European partnerships

Practical insights into the challenges, frameworks and opportunities of partnership-based collaboration

Room for critical reflection and experience sharing

Format and Audience

The online event combines expert inputs, practical case studies and interactive exchange formats. It is aimed at university leadership, researchers, international office staff and all stakeholders interested in future-oriented international academic cooperation.