With Sudan’s participation, the Association of African Universities (AAU) Council holds its 86th session in Accra

The AAU Council held its 86th session at the Association’s headquarters in Accra, Ghana. The two-day meeting brought together a select group of university presidents and senior executives from higher education institutions across the continent.

The meeting falls within the Council’s strategic and oversight role as the highest policy-making body of the Association. Members discussed ways to align institutional performance with the current strategic plan, reviewed performance indicators, the Secretary General’s report, and followed up on the implementation of previous resolutions.

The discussions focused on several priority areas, including strengthening quality assurance systems, supporting research excellence, accelerating digital transformation in African universities, and deepening continental cooperation to enhance the position of African higher education on the global academic stage.

In this context, Professor Elhadi Adam Mohamed Ibrahim, Director of Nilein University and a member of the Executive Committee of the Association of African Universities, stated that the convening of the 86th session reflects a deep institutional awareness of the magnitude of the challenges facing higher education on the continent and underscores the determination of African university leaders to move from the diagnostic phase to a phase of effective strategic action.

Elhadi added that the discussions centered on fundamental issues related to the quality of academic output, promoting scientific research aligned with development priorities, and accelerating digital transformation as a strategic choice, not a technological luxury. He emphasized that these paths represent the foundation for building African universities capable of competing globally while remaining connected to the needs of their societies.