The Future of Africa Will Be Decided in Its Universities

Group Photo of participants at the Internationalisation of Higher Education Workshop, Harare, Zimbabwe

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July 23, 2026

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Published by AAU Comms Team on July 28, 2026

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The Future of Africa Will Be Decided in Its Universities: AAU to Convene Continental Leadership for COREVIP 2027 and 60th Anniversary Celebration

ACCRA, Ghana, Tuesday, July 28, 2026 – The Association of African Universities (AAU) has announced the convening of its flagship 24th Conference of Rectors, Vice-Chancellors and Presidents of African Universities (COREVIP 2027), to be held from 20 to 23 July 2027 in Nairobi, Kenya, hosted by KCA University. The conference coincides with the AAU’s 60th Anniversary, marking six decades of continental leadership in advancing higher education. It is within Africa’s higher education institutions that the continent’s next generation of leaders is shaped, its groundbreaking research is advanced, its most consequential innovations are born, and its solutions to pressing challenges are forged. COREVIP 2027 is where the architects of that future – university leaders and key stakeholders from across the continent and beyond – will converge to define how these institutions fulfil their essential role in Africa’s transformation.

Under the theme “Universities for Africa’s Future: Repositioning African Universities for Resilience, Relevance and Global Impact,” the conference will assemble over 1,000 university presidents, rectors, and vice-chancellors, alongside African Ministers of Education, global university leaders, development partners, technology innovators, private sector executives, youth representatives and various stakeholders of Africa’s higher education. Together, they will not only debate the future – but will build it, forging a continental agenda that positions African universities as the decisive actors in the continent’s development story.

COREVIP 2027 moves decisively beyond the traditional conference format. It is designed as a platform for measurable outcomes -where dialogue translates into frameworks, partnerships materialize into investments, and commitments evolve into institutional change. The conference is structured around five strategic transformation pillars, each accompanied by a flagship initiative that will deliver tangible legacy outputs:

Future-Ready African Universities – Transforming teaching, learning, and skills development for the digital, green, and innovation economies, anchored by the African Future Skills University Network, which will deliver a continental skills framework and industry-university partnerships.
Research, Innovation and African Solutions – Strengthening research excellence, commercialization, and entrepreneurship through the African University Innovation and Research Platform, designed to showcase innovations and foster research partnerships.
Resilient and Sustainable Universities – Building institutions prepared for future challenges through the African University Resilience Index, an institutional benchmarking tool for governance, financing, and climate resilience.
Ethical Leadership and Institutional Excellence – Strengthening trust, transparency, and quality assurance through the African University Leadership Academy, which will offer leadership programmes, governance frameworks, and peer learning platforms.
Global African Higher Education Partnerships – Driving internationalization, diaspora engagement, and global collaboration through the Africa Global Higher Education Partnership Forum, which will facilitate partnership agreements, mobility opportunities, and research collaboration networks.

These initiatives are not aspirational; they are operational frameworks designed to produce measurable institutional transformation across the continent.

Professor Olusola Bandele Oyewole, Secretary-General of the Association of African Universities, articulated the gravity of this convening: “For sixty years, the AAU has been the bedrock of African higher education, championing our collective aspirations and amplifying our continental voice. This anniversary, however, is not a moment for reflection alone – it is a clarion call to action. The decisions African universities make over the next decade will determine whether we emerge as architects of global knowledge or remain on the periphery of innovation. COREVIP 2027 is being convened in Nairobi not merely as a conference, but as a continental assembly where the future of African higher education will be forged. From this gathering, we will emerge with concrete commitments, actionable strategies, and a shared roadmap that positions African universities as engines of sustainable development and global competitiveness. We extend an invitation to every Vice Chancellor, academic leader, policymaker, and stakeholder who shares the conviction that Africa’s destiny lies in the strength of its universities. Join us in Nairobi, where we will not only celebrate six decades of unity but will collectively chart the course for the next sixty years of African excellence.”

Professor Isaiah I. C. Wakindiki, Vice President of the Association of African Universities- East Africa and the Vice Chancellor & CEO of KCA University, affirmed the institution’s commitment to the continental agenda: “KCA University is honoured to co-host this milestone gathering as we celebrate 60 years of continental leadership under the Association of African Universities. Nairobi is a vibrant global hub where rapid technological innovation at the Silicon Savannah meets Africa’s forward momentum and is the ideal setting for a conference that will define the future of our higher education system. For too long, the extraordinary knowledge, research and innovation generated across African campuses have remained history’s best-kept secret; not for a lack of capability, but due to systemic gaps in global visibility. COREVIP 2027 is our collective answer to this challenge. As AAU Vice President for East Africa, I invite university leaders and key stakeholders from across the continent and the world to join us in Nairobi. Together, we will transform our institutions from isolated repositories of knowledge into resilient, globally visible gateways that power Africa’s sustainable development.”

Beyond the substantive policy and strategic sessions, COREVIP 2027 offers a curated experience designed to foster meaningful engagement. A Presidential and Ministerial Dialogue will provide high-level discourse on Africa’s education and development future, while the Global University Leaders Forum will connect African and international university leadership. The African University Innovation Exhibition will showcase technology solutions, research breakthroughs, student innovations, and entrepreneurship, and the AAU 60th Anniversary Gala will offer a celebratory evening honouring six decades of leadership and recognizing outstanding contributions to African higher education. These elements are not ornamental; they are strategically designed to facilitate the partnerships, investments, and collaborations that will translate conference commitments into institutional realities.

COREVIP 2027 is not simply a conference – It is a continental commitment to ensuring that African universities become more resilient and relevant institutions, and impact-driven institutions. The AAU and KCA University extend a strategic invitation to rectors, vice-chancellors, university presidents, African Ministers of Education, policymakers, quality assurance agencies, development partners, industry leaders, technology innovators, researchers, student leaders, diaspora networks, and all stakeholders committed to advancing higher education in Africa. For those seeking to align with Africa’s transformation story, a range of partnership and sponsorship opportunities is available, offering continental visibility, strategic influence, and a lasting legacy.

For more information, including participation opportunities, sponsorship packages, and registration, please visit the event website: events.aau.org/corevip

About the Conference Organisers

Association of African Universities (AAU)

Established in 1967 and headquartered in Accra, Ghana, the Association of African Universities (AAU) is the apex body and voice of higher education in Africa. With a membership of more than 450 higher education institutions, the Association promotes collaboration, quality higher education, research, innovation, and institutional development across the continent. The AAU also serves as a platform for dialogue, partnership-building, and collective action on issues shaping the future of higher education in Africa.

KCA University

KCA University, a proud member of the AAU, is a private, non-profit institution of higher learning headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, and guided by the mission of advancing knowledge and driving change. The University is recognised for its commitment to academic excellence, research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry engagement. Through its teaching, research, and partnerships, KCA University contributes to knowledge creation and socio-economic development in Kenya and beyond.