SADC higher education leaders aim to map SDG-driven reform

By bringing together university leaders, policy-makers, researchers, and practitioners, the SARUA Conference 2025 aims to catalyse transformative change in the region’s higher education landscape, aligning it more closely with sustainable development objectives and regional integration efforts, said Professor Stephen Simukanga, the interim executive director of the Southern African Regional Universities Association (SARUA), the biggest university network in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

During an interview with University World News ahead of the SARUA conference scheduled for 21-23 May 2025 at the University of Lusaka and the pan-African university UNICAF in Zambia, Simukanga emphasised that universities will be encouraged to reimagine their roles in teaching, research and community engagement in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The conference’s theme is ‘Innovating Higher Education for Sustainable Development Across the SADC: Innovation for impact’.

The conference will bring together university leaders to deliberate on the growing challenges to leadership, funding and innovation in higher education posed by current geopolitical pressures while positioning leadership, not just as a goal, but as a tool for navigating uncertainty and ensuring that higher education continues to thrive.

The conference is a platform for African thought leaders to share their views, insights and experiences. The leaders include Jouhaina Gherib (a professor of strategic management at the University of Manouba in Tunisia and former vice president of the International Association of Universities), Dr Peter Wells (the director of UNESCO Southern Africa), Professor George Openjuru (vice-chancellor of Gulu University in Uganda), Professor Romeela Mohee (former vice-chancellor of Mauritius University and higher education commissioner of Mauritius), and Dr Andree Sursock (affiliated with the European University Association).

UWN: Why is SARUA hosting this conference now?

SS: The SARUA Conference 2025 is being convened now to address the urgent need for higher education institutions in the SADC to adapt to rapid economic, technological and social transformations. The conference aims to foster cross-sector collaboration among academia, government, industry, and civil society to drive innovation and tackle complex regional challenges.

The urgency of holding this conference is about emboldening our network to fortify our collective power and build resilience in our sector, given the global geopolitical changes and uncertainties.

The timing aligns with the broader objectives of UNESCO’s SDG imperatives, which seek to build capacity in the SADC universities to contribute to the leadership and the achievement of the SDGs in their local environments using transformative leadership. Our efforts are to develop attuned and impactful leadership to promote sustainable development through engagement.

By bringing together university leaders, policy-makers, researchers and practitioners, the SARUA Conference 2025 aims to catalyse transformative change in the region’s higher education landscape, aligning it more closely with sustainable development objectives and regional integration efforts.

UWN: What are the key sub-themes?

SS: The key focus is on advancing leadership and our network to fortify our sector and build strong relationships in our region. The sub-themes include:

• The role of higher education in advancing regional integration, economic development, and social cohesion.

• Innovation and transformation of higher education institutions in the SADC region.

• Best practices and successful models of higher education transformation from within the region and beyond.

• Collaboration and partnerships towards impact in SADC higher education.

• Digital transformation in higher education.

• Higher education leadership as agents for change.

• Knowledge co-production for regional development.

• Quality assurance to support higher education innovation, and

• Higher education in the context of the SDGs.

UWN: How does this conference support SARUA’s broader mission to strengthen higher education in the SADC region?

SS: It supports the organisation’s broader mission to strengthen higher education in the SADC region by fostering cross-sector collaboration among universities, government, civil society and industry. This approach promotes regional integration, broad leadership and knowledge sharing, essential to building resilient and innovative higher education systems.

Through its focus on innovation for impact, the conference encourages institutions to reimagine their roles in teaching, research, and community engagement in alignment with the SDGs. It also helps build leadership capacity by equipping higher education leaders with the tools to drive institutional transformation.

Furthermore, by highlighting digital transformation and quality assurance, the conference reinforces SARUA’s goal of creating locally relevant, globally competitive, and high-quality higher education across the region.

We primarily focus on connecting the region – with this strong connection, we collectively advance our sector.

UWN: What short- and long-term benefits can SADC universities expect from participating in this conference?

SS: In the short term, institutions gain valuable opportunities for learning, insight, networking and collaboration with peers, university leaders, policy-makers, and industry leaders, fostering partnerships that can lead to joint research and shared resources.

Attendees benefit from exchanging knowledge and exposure to best practices in innovation, digital transformation and academic leadership. Workshops and forums also build immediate capacity for staff, academics and researchers.

In the long term, the insights and relationships developed through the conference can support institutional transformation, aligning universities more closely with regional (and African) development goals and the SDGs. This enhanced alignment promotes greater regional integration, increases student and staff mobility across our region, and positions institutions for improved global competitiveness through strengthened leadership, quality assurance and innovation.

UWN: What is SARUA’s long-term vision for regional integration and innovation in higher education, and how will this be reflected during the conference?

SS: The long-term vision is to build a connected, collaborative, aligned and resilient SADC higher education ecosystem that actively contributes to sustainable development across our region and in Africa. This vision emphasises deep regional integration, where universities across the SADC share knowledge, align academic programmes, promote staff and student mobility and co-create solutions to common challenges. Leadership is central to this vision, focusing on transforming institutions through leadership, digital technologies, inclusive pedagogies, capacity development and community-engaged research that directly supports the SDGs and a better life for all.

This vision will be reflected during the conference through its core theme and its various sub-themes. Sessions will showcase models of regional collaboration, highlight successful leadership approaches, and foster dialogue on harmonising academic standards and enhancing quality assurance. Furthermore, by convening diverse stakeholders – including university leaders, academics, researchers, policy-makers, and industry partners – the conference will act as a platform for strategic planning and collective action, reinforcing SARUA’s mission to create a unified and innovative higher education space across the region.

UWN: Given the current geopolitical pressures, higher education is facing growing challenges. How will the conference tackle threats to the innovation agenda in this context?

SS: The conference will directly tackle the growing challenges to leadership, funding, and innovation in higher education through strategic dialogue, collaborative problem-solving, and forward-looking sessions. The conference creates space to openly discuss how instability, resource constraints, and shifting political landscapes impact the innovation agenda by bringing together leaders from across the SADC region. Key sessions will explore ways to safeguard academic freedom, build institutional resilience, and maintain digital transformation and research momentum, despite external pressures.

A strong emphasis will also be on strengthening regional solidarity – using collaboration, shared resources, and policy alignment to buffer institutions against external shocks. In short, the conference is positioning leadership, not just as a goal, but as a tool for navigating uncertainty and ensuring higher education continues to drive development, even in tough times.