Bloemfontein, South Africa – There is a growing recognition that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Africa's Agenda 2063 will necessitate extensive technical expertise and deep research capacities. To achieve the SDGs and Agenda 2063 in Africa, universities must increase their focus on research that can contribute to sustainable development goals while also meeting international quality standards.

These insights guided AUDA-NEPAD's meeting with the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Free State, represented by Dr Molapo Qhobela, Vice-Rector: Institutional Change, Strategic Partnerships, and Societal Impact. The meeting was opened by Dr Molapo Qhobela, who welcomed the AUDA-NEPAD team. He was optimistic that these discussions would spark useful discussions about collaborations between the University of Free State, AUDA-NEPAD, and the African Union in a broader context of education, science, technology, and innovation, as well as Africa's socio-economic development.

Ms Fati N'zi-Hassane, Head of Human Capital & Institutions Development, also made an opening statement, introducing herself and her division's role in implementing Agenda 2063. She emphasized the various units in her division and how they contribute to the overall AUDA-NEPAD mandate.

Dr Justina Dugbazah thanked the UFS team for the warm welcome. She introduced the audience to AUDA-NEPAD, the Education Division, APET, and the Calestous Juma Executive Dialogue, as well as the importance of harnessing innovation and emerging technology for socio-economic development in Africa. She emphasized that AUDA-NEPAD serves as Africa's technical interface, facilitating development and collaboration with partners. She also stated that the findings show a gap at the national level in implementing education, science, and technology initiatives. She is hopeful that these discussions will support the necessary discussions in African universities.

During discussions, it was discovered that South Africa's current national development plan is in line with international, continental, and regional commitments and that it mutually reinforces sustainable development with primary areas of research. Furthermore, the plan emphasizes research as a means of accelerating economic growth. Inadequate human and institutional capacity, on the other hand, will be a significant impediment to successfully achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063 goals. In many cases, implementation agencies, sectors, and ministries lack sufficient people with the necessary skills to achieve the desired results. Public resources allocated to capacity building are also frequently insufficient, unpredictable, and irrational.

Furthermore, universities should invest in postgraduate training by establishing specialized training centres that focus on teaching general competencies and skills to students and employees of their institutions. If universities and governments want innovation to play a significant role in the implementation of Agenda 2063, they must prioritize high-quality education and research.

The AUDA-NEPAD delegation also met with Prof Joyce M Tsoka-Gwegweni, Vice-Dean (Research) of the University of Free State's Faculty of Health Sciences. The Faculty of Health Sciences emphasized the importance of early-career researcher support on the continent. It was suggested that a dialogue be organized to bring stakeholders from across the continent together and showcase best practices. In addition, the faculty has a mentoring program for young female researchers, and it was suggested that an article be submitted to the AUDA-NEPAD delegation for publication in the next APET newsletter. The AUDA-NEPAD delegation is also eager to facilitate and initiate engagements between the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Africa CDC in order to strengthen collaboration on priority areas. Similarly, malaria and tuberculosis researchers would be linked to AUDA-NEPAD's Integrated Vector Management Programme and tuberculosis programs, respectively, to facilitate knowledge sharing.

The University of Free State runs projects focusing on subject management, district leadership, and professional learning communities (PLCs) from the South Campus to contribute to the better functioning and well-being of schools in the Mangaung area through its Social Responsibility Enterprises and Community Engagement Programme (SRP). School governing bodies (SGB) training and support in areas such as governance and management, social cohesion in nation building, and value- and data-driven schools are among the projects. This is achieved through workshops, individual coaching, and recognizing and rewarding top performers.

During a meeting with the SRP director and team, it was agreed that we needed to fully define and conceptualize what pedagogy in Africa should look like, as well as be able to explain what good education in Africa looks like. Although these are frequently country or system specific due to the continent's diverse interests, approaches, and learning methodologies, there is a need to kickstart some continental discussions. The UFS SRP experience can serve as a model for CJED program engagements in other African countries focused on teacher development, the use of virtual tools in education, and the role of universities in their communities. Mrs Thandeka Mosholi, Head of the SRP at the South Campus, stated that her unit is readily available to share best practices on "training of trainers" modules as well as virtual learning tools that have worked with interested stakeholders.

In addition to meetings with the university, the delegation was invited to meet with Dr Phil Makgoe, the Free State Province's MEC of Education. Dr Phil Makgoe expressed appreciation for the team's willingness to meet. He expressed enthusiasm for bringing international collaboration in education to the province and facilitating knowledge exchange. He also mentioned that, in order to promote regional integration on the continent, bursaries are being offered to students in his province to study both within and outside the continent, including in Rwanda. Thus, facilitating engagements with Ministries of Education and Universities in other African countries would be greatly appreciated and should be a key outcome of these discussions.

A summary of outcomes of the discussions with the University and Department of Education are as follows:

1. We need more African scientists and leaders who are willing to ask tough questions about why innovation and new technologies aren't widely adopted. Even though there is evidence that certain technologies are successful and are in line with African norms and cultures, we as Africans must figure out why these technologies aren't being effectively harnessed and address these gaps.
2. Universities in South Africa need to work across national borders to increase the capacity of African countries and achieve continental goals. The National Research Foundation of South Africa's establishment of research chairs across Africa is a good example of how this can be implemented. Stable funding, on the other hand, is required for the long-term sustainability of these initiatives.
3. In order to maintain a healthy and equitable distribution of intellectual capacity, Africa must keep intellectual capital flowing across the continent. When economies with more resources tend to attract all the best continental capacities, imbalances occur, which must not be encouraged.
4. It is the duty of educational institutions to place a high value on meeting the economic and social development needs of our continent. For African universities, it is important to identify the niches and roles they can play in order to be responsible for those roles. Whether or not we're willing to step out of our comfort zone is the most important factor.
5. Free State University and the Department of Education are interested in working with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) to carry out its mandates in the fields of health, research, education, and other priority areas of concern. As an example, at the university where the "100 Days" project is taking place, infant mortality is a top priority. This could be an area of cooperation in the future.
6. For our young people to fully grasp the opportunities available on the continent, we must domesticate our continental strategies. It is imperative that universities promote programs like the AU Youth Volunteers program so that young people from a variety of disciplines can learn about the continent's aspirational strategies and strategies.