AAU and KCA University Partner to Host COREVIP 2027 and AAU@60 Celebration

Preparations for the 24th Conference of Rectors, Vice-Chancellors and Presidents of African Universities (COREViP 2027) have formally commenced following the successful signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Association of African Universities and KCA University. This landmark event is scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 20th to 23rd July 2027.

The MoU was signed by Prof. Olusola Bandele Oyewole, Secretary-General of the AAU, and Prof. Isaiah I. C. Wakindiki, Vice-Chancellor and CEO of KCA University, formalising a shared commitment to delivering a conference of the highest international standard. The signing marks the official commencement of a collaborative partnership that will guide all preparations for COREVIP 2027.

COREVIP 2027 coincides with the 60th Anniversary of the Association of African Universities, marking six transformative decades of continental leadership across higher education, institutional development, research collaboration, quality assurance, and policy advocacy. Since its founding in 1967, the AAU has grown into Africa’s foremost convening, advocacy, and capacity-building body for universities, championing academic excellence and fostering partnerships that have shaped the trajectory of higher education across the continent. The Diamond Jubilee celebration will honour this enduring legacy while charting an ambitious course for the decades ahead.

Convening under the theme, “Repositioning African Universities for Resilience, Relevance, and Impact,” the conference will serve as a strategic platform for reflecting on the evolving role of African universities in addressing contemporary development challenges and advancing sustainable continental transformation. The theme underscores the growing imperative for institutions to strengthen resilience, expand societal relevance, and deepen their contribution to innovation, policy transformation, and inclusive growth across Africa.

Held biennially, COREVIP remains a flagship statutory conference of the AAU and one of the continent’s most influential higher education convenings. The conference brings together Rectors, Vice-Chancellors, Presidents of universities, policymakers, researchers, development partners, industry leaders, and other stakeholders from across Africa and beyond to deliberate on strategic issues shaping the future of higher education on the continent.

Envisioned as more than a high-level academic and policy gathering, the conference will also serve as a forward-looking platform anchored in measurable transformation, implementation tracking, and evidence-based progress across African higher education systems.

The partnership between the AAU and KCA University reflects a shared commitment to advancing higher education collaboration across the continent while showcasing Kenya’s dynamic higher education ecosystem, innovation landscape, and rich cultural heritage to the broader international academic community.

As preparations commence, the AAU is calling on member universities, researchers, policymakers, development partners, industry leaders, and the broader academic community to actively engage in the conference and contribute to shaping a more resilient, relevant, and impactful future for higher education in Africa.

COREVIP 2027 and the AAU@60 celebration are expected to stand as defining milestones in the ongoing effort to reposition African universities as drivers of innovation, sustainable development, continental integration, and societal transformation in an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving global landscape.