Partners and Networks
Partners
One way to develop lasting and meaningful cooperation is to establish formal treaties with a select number of partner universities in the Global South. In addition to our longstanding relationship with the University of the Western Cape in South Africa the university has added the Anton de Kom University in Suriname as strategic partner.
Utrecht University and the University of the Western Cape (UWC) have a history of collaboration stretching back to the 1980s. In June 2019, an updated Memo of Understanding was signed to establish the strategic partnership. The new strategic partnership had four focus points:
- Exchange of staff and students (annually, Masters and PhD students are awarded a research grant to conduct research in UU for a period of 3-6 months)
- Joint research (extended research scope, cooperation on scientific meetings, publications, and information exchange between the two universities, with a view to facilitating joint UU-UWC research programmes)
- Joint PhD programmes (joint UU-UWC Doctorate Agreement; it is the intention that a Global PhD Support Programme will be developed, linked to UU's strategic themes)
- Cooperation on projects (UU and UWC collaborate on non-academic projects, for example, digital & distant learning and explorations into stimulating international classroom environments)
In partnering with UWC, UU also builds valuable relationships and opportunities for funding and research collaboration with other leading South African universities, including Stellenbosch University and the University of Cape Town. UWC notes that when international research funding opportunities arise, this engagement allows UWC to apply jointly with European partners.
“What this agreement shows is that there is good collaboration between the two universities; with researchers now working together with deeper commitment in the pursuit of knowledge and scholarship that benefits students, staff and the communities both institutions serve” - Mr Umesh Bawa, Director of International Relations at UWC.
For more information, visit the UWC website.
We are very proud of the partnership we have made with the AdeKUS in 2021. With the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on August 27, 2021, we will focus on the following points over the next five years:
- Joint research partnerships
- Staff mobility (exchanges)
- Student supervision (supervision from UU on AdeKUS PhD students)
In addition, there are several other links between the two universities, for example providing lectures for students from the other university, internships (faculty of Medicine) and supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Next to this, the UU is engaged in supporting the creation of PhD positions at AdeKUS. The two universities have historic “friendly relations” and this has resulted in many collaborations in the past. With the new Memorandum of Understanding, we can build on these relations and expand our collaboration.
For more information, visit the AdeKUS website.
Documents:
- Infoguide cooperation AdeKUS & UU
- Annual Report UU & ADEKUS 2021/2022
- Symposium AdeKUS & UU (February 4, 2022) (in Dutch)
- Minutes cooperation AdeKUS & UU (September 28, 2022) (in Dutch)
Networks
Since 2020, the UU has been a member of the Coimbra Group, a network of more than 40 European universities that cooperate and share knowledge on a number of different terrains such as innovation in education and Open Science. Relevant for global engagement is our participation in the working group on development cooperation. We also participate in the Coimbra Scholarship scheme for young researchers from the Global South. In 2022 we have awarded the first three scholarships to researchers from different African countries, who will come and stay in Utrecht for up to three months. In awarding scholarships to students from the Global South, the UU can expand its knowledge and position itself among the other universities in the fields of Open Science, innovation in education, etc.
For more information, visit the website of the Coimbra Group.
IAU is the only large international network of universities that counts among its members many institutions from the Global South. It is an NGO that was founded in 1950 as part of UNESCO. As one of the founding members, UU has been involved in setting up this NGO from the beginning. With its now more than 650 member organisations, the focus is on inclusive, fair and ethical internationalisation of higher education, Sustainable Development Goals (and its integration in higher education) and improving the role of technology in higher education.
For more information, visit the IAU website.
The Platform for International Education (PIE) is a platform of Dutch organisations that are active in worldwide international cooperation in higher education and research. PIE is part of NUFFIC and lobbies for properly designed and well-funded government programmes for lower and lower middle income countries in the Global South. It supports the promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and inclusiveness in development. PIE and its members have created a very useful tool to access information about funding for projects that involve partners from the Global South, please click this link to see the tool.
For more information, visit the PIE website.