1st SARUA Conference 2025
Innovating Higher Education for Sustainable Development across the SADC: Innovation for Impact
21–23 May 2025 | Lusaka, Zambia
The 1st SARUA Conference 2025 will focus on adapting education to drive economic growth, regional integration and sustainable development. It will unite university leaders, policymakers, industry and civil society to foster cross-sector collaboration, build impactful partnerships and ensure higher education evolves to address complex societal challenges and empower the region.
Expression of Interest
Funding acquisition support for higher education development in Africa
SARUA is inviting Expressions of Interest from qualified individuals, consultancy firms or organisations with proven experience in identifying, drafting and applying for funding from regional and international donors, funders or organisations.
Expression of Interest (EoI):
Innovating Higher Education for Sustainable Development across the SADC: Innovation for Impact
Expression of Interest (EoI):
SARUA is inviting Expressions of Interest from qualified individuals, consultancy firms or organisations with proven experience in identifying, drafting and applying for funding from regional and international donors, funders or organisations.
Expression of Interest (EoI):
Innovating Higher Education for Sustainable Development across the SADC: Innovation for Impact
Expression of Interest (EoI):
SARUA is inviting Expressions of Interest from qualified individuals, consultancy firms or organisations with proven experience in identifying, drafting and applying for funding from regional and international donors, funders or organisations.
What is SARUA?
The Southern African Universities Association (SARUA) is a membership-based association of public and private higher education institutions in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Serving as a pivotal hub for higher education in the region, we are committed to driving change and fostering collaboration among the higher education community within the SADC. Our mission is to be an agile, impactful and responsive regional network that champions policy advocacy, advances innovation and builds resilient academic ecosystems.
Our value proposition: Our four strategic pillars
At the heart of our mission lies a steadfast commitment to advancing the higher education sector in the Southern African region. Our work is rooted in four key strategic pillars:
1. Collective sense-making and policy advocacy
Creating a shared understanding on regional issues and grand challenges to foster a more enabling environment for the regional higher education sector.
2. Engagement for regional impact
Promoting knowledge co-production through participative approaches that address regional priorities.
3. Capacity-building
Crafting tailored leadership and professional development programmes that spur institutional excellence within our network.
4. Communities of practice
Establishing platforms for skill-sharing and dialogue among higher education professionals within our network.
Strategic goals and focus areas
Informed by our deep understanding of our dynamic context, we draw on our value proposition to define six strategic goals. These insights guide us in formulating our four strategic focus areas, within which we translate our strategic goals into actionable programmes and activities.
Get involved
Connect
We disseminate relevant information and news via our social media platforms. Connect with us on LinkedIn.
Membership
SARUA is the ideal platform for discussions around higher education in the SADC. Become a member today.
Partnership
Webinars
Our webinar and workshop series presents information, discussion and capacity-development opportunities relating to all four strategic focus areas and our strategic enabler.
Facts about the Southern African Development Community
The SADC has a combined population of 380 million people.
SADC’s headquarters can be found in Gaborone, Botswana.
There are 16 SADC Member States.
For information on the SADC visit sadc.int.
from the director’s desk
The launching of SARUA’s new website marks a significant milestone in the Association’s evolution as a dynamic virtual higher education network. Now, more than ever, we need to unlock the potential of digital communication platforms to support regional networking and collaboration.
Higher Education collaboration should be a focus of university leadership as well as ordinary members of staff. A collaborative platform such as SARUA will provide answers to the current and future complexities facing higher education institutions.
