Curtin University has further strengthened its ties with African communities, celebrating Australia Africa Week in Perth by hosting and participating in a series of exciting events including the signing of a joint Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Rwanda, Rwanda Polytechnic and the Rwandan Development Board.
This agreement aims to develop academic collaborations with the Rwandan organisations in the areas of Science and Engineering and Heath Sciences.
Curtin’s Africa Week program of activities was developed and delivered by Dean Global, Africa, Associate Professor David Mickler who said the diverse range of activities provided excellent opportunities to engage with the local African diaspora and visiting academics, students and dignitaries.
“Africa Week brought together key stakeholders from the African continent and Australia across government, industry, academia and communities to celebrate our ties and to discuss opportunities to build deeper understanding and partnerships,” Associate Professor Mickler said.
The flagship Australia Africa Universities Network (AAUN) Annual Forum was hosted by Curtin and featured the Hon. Ayor Makur Chuot MLC, Western Australia’s first member of parliament of African descent, African Heads of Mission from Zimbabwe, Ghana, Mauritius and Zambia, Australian Heads of Mission to Ghana and Mauritius, senior delegates from the 25-member university network, Australia Awards Africa scholars and students.
Curtin hosted a series of AAUN collaborative research workshops followed by a special Bentley campus experience for visiting African delegates, including a Wanju Mia Aboriginal cultural education session at the University’s Yarning Circle.
Aligning with the Faculty of Humanities Global Futures theme, Curtin’s Centre for Australia-Africa Relations hosted a dinner and discussion on the theme of Africa and the Indo-Pacific.
Other Australia Africa Week activities coordinated by Curtin included partnership development meetings, a public forum on de-stigmatising mental health and cultivating wellness in African communities, a roundtable discussion with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Africa Branch and concluded with the WA African Community Awards Gala.
Curtin is the only Australian university with a campus in Africa with Curtin Mauritius, which represents the University’s enduring commitment to higher education partnerships in the region.
For more information about Curtin’s Africa engagement, visit here.
