Africa’s Future Will Be Built by Knowledge, Innovation, and Partnerships – AAU Secretary-General Tells QS Africa Forum 2026
July 20, 2026
The Association of African Universities (AAU) will officially launch the 24th Conference of Rectors, Vice-Chancellors and Presidents of African Universities (COREVIP 2027) on July 28 2026 during a virtual ceremony that will also mark the commencement of the AAU’s 60th Anniversary (AAU@60) celebrations.
Scheduled for 9:30 AM GMT, the event will convene university leaders, policymakers, researchers, students, development partners, and higher education stakeholders from across Africa and beyond. The launch will unveil the vision, priorities, and roadmap for COREVIP 2027, to be held from 20–23 July 2027 at KCA University in Nairobi, Kenya.
Two Milestones, One Shared Vision
Bringing together these two landmark milestones, the ceremony inaugurates a year-long celebration of the AAU’s six decades of advancing higher education in Africa, while simultaneously setting the stage for its flagship conference. Beyond commemoration, the launch provides a timely platform to reflect on progress made, foster dialogue, strengthen partnerships, and inspire collective action to advance Africa’s higher education agenda in an increasingly dynamic global landscape. Register Here
Looking Ahead to COREVIP 2027
Convened biennially, COREVIP is the AAU’s flagship conference and one of Africa’s foremost higher education leadership forums. It provides a unique platform for rectors, vice-chancellors, university presidents, governments, regional and international organisations, development partners, industry leaders, and researchers to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships, and shape the strategic direction of higher education in Africa.
Scheduled for 20–23 July 2027 at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, and hosted by KCA University, COREVIP 2027 will be convened under the theme: “Building the Future African University: Repositioning African Universities for Resilience, Relevance and Global Impact.”
Under this theme, the conference will stimulate high-level dialogue on the evolving role of African universities in responding to emerging continental and global priorities while showcasing innovative approaches to strengthening higher education systems across Africa.
As the culminating event of the AAU’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, COREVIP 2027 will provide a platform not only to celebrate six decades of collective achievement but also to inspire bold thinking, strengthen collaboration, and advance a shared vision for the continent’s universities.
The virtual launch will bring together leaders and stakeholders from across the higher education ecosystem to formally commence the journey to Nairobi 2027. Through keynote addresses, goodwill messages from strategic partners, and the presentation of the COREVIP 2027 roadmap, participants will gain insight into the milestones, engagement opportunities, and collaborative initiatives shaping preparations for the conference, offering universities, partners, and other stakeholders a clear view of how to get involved in the lead-up to Nairobi 2027.
A Call to the African Higher Education Community
The AAU invites universities, policymakers, researchers, students, development partners, and all stakeholders committed to advancing higher education in Africa to participate in this landmark event. Register Here
More than the launch of a conference, the event marks the beginning of a shared continental journey towards COREVIP 2027 and the celebration of sixty years of continental leadership in advancing higher education.
For further information on COREVIP 2027, contact:
Dr. Felicia Nkrumah Kuagbedzi
Acting Coordinator, ICT, Communications and Knowledge Management, AAU
Email: fnkrumah@aau.org
Tel: +233 246 425 147
