Canadian universities to help African universities form closer ties with industry

OTTAWA, May 27, 2010 – On the week that marks Africa Day, the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada is proud to announce it has formed a new partnership with the Association of African Universities to strengthen African universities’ relationships with local and regional industries. This project will create 27 new university-industry partnerships, with about 250 AAU member institutions benefiting.

“Universities are critical members of today’s knowledge economy,” says Goolam Mohamedbhai, Secretary General of the Association of African Universities. “They not only generate the knowledge and a highly skilled workforce, they also create vital networks that bring people, knowledge and infrastructure together.”

Through this partnership, financially supported by the Canadian International Development Agency, African universities will be linked more closely with the private sector, positioning them to better develop the skills and knowledge to meet Africa’s economic needs. African universities have faced challenges in strengthening their linkages with the private sector due to under-resourcing.

“Higher education is one of the most powerful yet underestimated instruments of development,” says Paul Davidson, president and CEO of AUCC.

Professor Mohamedbhai says his association approached AUCC because Canadian universities have successfully pioneered effective linkages with the private sector and other key stakeholders over the past several decades.

AUCC and Canadian universities, in turn, will gain enhanced relationships with African universities. With these new relationships, Canadian institutions can continue to reinforce the pivotal role of higher education in economic growth and poverty reduction in Africa.

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AUCC is the voice of Canada’s universities representing 95 Canadian public and private, not-for-profit universities and university-degree level colleges.

For more information:

Liz Smith, Communications
Partnerships Programs
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada