UNESCO has launched an ambitious initiative aimed at reimagining African higher education. Under the name Campus Africa, the programme aims to turn the continent's universities into engines of innovation, sustainability and social development. The proposal is seen as a roadmap for building education systems that are inclusive, digital and ready for the challenges of the 21st century.
The project aims to reduce the gap that still separates African youth from access to quality advanced education. Currently, less than 10 % of young people are enrolled in tertiary education, a figure far below the world average. Campus Africa aims to reverse this trend by investing in research, training and partnerships with the productive sector, with a special focus on the participation of women and rural communities.
The initiative is articulated through university networks and research centres linking institutions in different countries. Its approach combines pedagogical modernisation with technical training and the creation of skills adapted to the labour market. Digital tools, flexible learning and interregional cooperation are among the priorities of the programme, which also aims to strengthen student mobility within the continent.
Campus Africa places scientific innovation at the heart of its strategy. Efforts are geared towards boosting key sectors such as sustainable agriculture, renewable energy and digital technology, considered pillars for Africa's green growth. It also promotes the creation of research ecosystems that integrate universities, start-ups and local communities, fostering practical solutions to social and environmental challenges.
An essential component of the programme is the network of UNESCO Chairs, distributed in more than twenty countries, which lead projects in artificial intelligence, water management or clean industrialisation. Their role is decisive in connecting academic knowledge with the real needs of the territory and strengthening South-South cooperation.
Beyond education, Campus Africa embodies a political and economic vision: that of a continent capable of training its youth to transform its own future. If it can consolidate its partnerships and secure stable funding, the initiative could mark a turning point in the development of African knowledge and the achievement of Agenda 2063, which dreams of a prosperous, self-sufficient and innovative Africa.
Source: UNESCO