UCT becomes first African university to join international research alliance

UCT is set to be the first African university to become part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU) next year. From January 2016, UCT will become the 11th member in the strategic partnership and the first new member since the formation of the alliance 10 years ago.

“Universities are operating in an increasingly complex and challenging global environment,” says UCT Vice-Chancellor Dr Max Price. “It is vital that we learn from one another and that we ensure that African-specific perspectives are part of the conversation. UCT very much looks forward to sharing its knowledge and resources in this global forum.”

Besides being a valuable collaboration network, IARU represents an important platform for exchange and reflection on issues that higher education institutions face in an increasingly global environment. “UCT will bring a new African perspective to the table,” says IARU Chairman Ralf Hemmingsen, rector of the University of Copenhagen, in this way “greatly enrich[ing] IARU’s dialogue among the members from different corners of the world”.

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