Southern African Regional
Universities Association
1st SARUA Conference 2025
This event took place on 21-23 May in the vibrant city of Lusaka. Thank you to everyone who participated. Below, you’ll find highlights and news from the conference.
About the 2025 conference
The SARUA Conference theme, ‘Innovating Higher Education for Sustainable Development across the SADC: Innovation for Impact’, highlights the urgent need for universities to adapt to economic, technological and social shifts. In a rapidly evolving world, collaboration across sectors, including academia, government, industry and civil society, is essential to drive innovation and tackle complex regional challenges. By fostering cross-border and multi-disciplinary partnerships, higher education can enhance research impact, inform policy and strengthen its role in sustainable development and economic growth.
Take a look at the programme and abstracts of the 2025 conference.
1st SARUA Conference in the media
2025 keynote speakers
SARUA Conference 2025 sponsors











