1st SARUA Conference 2025

Innovating Higher Education for Sustainable Development across the SADC: Innovation for Impact

Lusaka | Zambia
21–23 May 2025
0
0
0
0
Days
0
0
Hrs
0
0
Min
0
0
Sec

About

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.

Details

For detailed information about the conference, visas, accommodation and more, please see the latest conference call.

Location

The conference will be held in the vibrant city of Lusaka in Zambia.

Pre-conference workshops will take place at the University of Lusaka and UNICAF Zambia, and the conference be held at the University of Lusaka Silverest Campus.

We have negotiated a preferential rate for conference delegates with the following hotels. Please mention that you are attending the SARUA Conference when making your booking.

Call for abstracts

These are the themes we’ll be covering at the conference:

  • 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

  • Higher education in the context of the SDGs

Provide:

  • a title, all authors’ details and affiliations
  • an abstract of not more than 500 words comprising a brief background, the methodology and the intended outcomes

  • not more than four key words

  • an English translation if the abstract is in French or Portuguese (abstracts may be in English, French or Portuguese but the conference will be held in English)

Programme

The programme will be updated in the lead-up to the conference. Please check back for the latest version.

Registration

Exhibitors and sponsors

SARUA invites your organisation to participate as a sponsor or exhibitor, which will give you the opportunity to interact with thought leaders, institutions and academics in higher education and showcase your products and services to the regional and global audience.

The conference is expected to attract about 200 delegates from across SADC and other countries, and there are multiple exibitor and sponsor package options to choose from to make an impact.

Meet our keynote speakers

Meet our sponsors

Meet our sponsors

Meet our Sponsors