Universal Acceptance in African Universities: Advancing Digital Inclusivity

Nodumo Dhlamini, Director, ICT Services & Knowledge Management, Association of African Universities

Abdul Manaf Sulemana, UA Project Officer, Association of African Universities

As African universities continue to expand digital learning and global research collaborations, they face a significant challenge: outdated information technology (IT) systems that do not recognize all domain names and email addresses. This issue is particularly impactful for students, faculty, and researchers who use non-Latin scripts or longer domain names. Universal Acceptance (UA) is the solution. It ensures that all valid domain names and email addresses—regardless of script, language, or length—are processed correctly by Internet-enabled applications.

By adopting UA, universities can create a more inclusive digital environment, supporting linguistic diversity and facilitating global academic partnerships. When universities embrace UA, they open the door to better access for students and faculty worldwide, enhancing communication, collaboration, and opportunities in a competitive academic landscape.

Progress and Key Milestones

Progress has already been made. Through the partnership between the Association of African Universities (AAU) and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), under the Coalition for Digital Africa, more than 400 AAU member universities are working toward UA compliance. Significant progress is evident, with 304 universities transitioning to UA-friendly email platforms and 133 universities upgrading their websites to accommodate Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs). These numbers demonstrate that African universities are committed to creating an inclusive digital space for all.

However, challenges persist. Bureaucratic delays often slow decision-making for IT updates, and many universities rely on outdated infrastructure that needs substantial modifications to meet UA standards. Awareness gaps also remain, many universities are unfamiliar with the benefits of UA and its role in digital accessibility.

Success Stories from African Universities

Yet, there are success stories that show the way forward. At Solusi University in Zimbabwe, the journey toward UA compliance began with an AAU workshop in Namibia, where ICANN facilitators provided hands-on training. From there, Solusi University updated its website, trained its IT team, and even hosted a UA adoption event to raise awareness on campus. “As we focused on internationalization in recruitment, community engagement, innovation, and research, UA compliance became a crucial part of our digital strategy,” says Ntokozo Ncube, Information Communication Technology (ICT) Manager, Solusi University. “Embracing UA has helped us expand our global reach.” Since becoming UA-compliant, the university has seen improved search engine rankings, wider reach, and an increase in student applications from non-English-speaking countries

Similarly, 2iE University in Burkina Faso faced issues with email rejections from international applicants due to non-UA-compliant systems. After attending a workshop in Morocco, the university upgraded its IT infrastructure to support diverse domain name scripts. “UA compliance has allowed us to engage with a larger audience, both locally and internationally.” says Ephrem Tiemtore, ICT Director at 2iE University. “We can now connect more easily with students, partners, and collaborators from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds.” As a result, 2iE University now engages more easily with international students and partners, enhancing its global collaborations and research initiatives.

Looking Ahead: Key Steps for Broader Adoption

The progress made so far is encouraging, but for broader adoption, universities must continue advocating for UA as a standard IT requirement. This includes integrating UA principles into curricula, investing in staff training, and building cross-university collaborations. As more universities embrace UA, the continent moves closer to a truly inclusive digital ecosystem, offering equal access to all students, researchers, and faculty worldwide.

The next steps for the universities are clear: audit existing IT systems, train faculty and staff, and upgrade outdated infrastructure. Institutions that act now will not only improve access for their own students and faculty, they will also set the stage for a more inclusive, globally connected digital future for African higher education.

The time to act is now. As we move forward, embedding UA principles into institutional policies and curricula, as well as creating partnerships with global organizations like ICANN, will be key in transforming African universities into digital leaders. In the next phase of this journey, universities must prioritize UA, ensuring that all systems and infrastructures support inclusive digital environments.