Français

About AAU/
Présentation de l'AUA

What's New/
Dernières Nouvelles

Newsletter/
Lettre d'information 

Core Programme/
Programme majeur

Services to Members/
Services aux membres

Members/
Universités membres

Secretariat/
Secrétariat

Publications/
Publications

Contacting AAU/
Adresse de l'AUA

Useful Resources/
Autres Ressources 
sur l'Éducation 
 

Following recommendations of a conference on the Future of Higher Education in Africa, held in September 1962 in Tananarive, Madagascar, under the auspices of UNESCO, a preparatory committee was set up at a Meeting of Heads of African Institutions of Higher Education, held in September 1963 in Khartoum, Sudan which led to the founding of the Association of African Universities on November 14, 1967, at a conference held in Rabat, Morocco. At this founding conference, a Constitution was adopted, an Executive Board was elected, and Officers appointed. The function of the Board and Officers was to oversee the execution of AAU activities.
 

The Association aims at promoting interchange, contact and cooperation among African higher education institutions. To achieve this aim it collects, classifies and disseminates information on higher education and research, particularly in Africa, promotes cooperation among African institutions in curriculum development and in the determination of equivalence of degrees, encourages increased contact between AAU members and the international academic world, organises and supports seminars and conferences between academic staff, administrators and other persons dealing with problems of higher education in Africa. The AAU also conducts studies and makes known the educational and related needs of African higher education institutions and, coordinates the means whereby some of these needs may be met and last but not the least, encourages development and wider use of African languages in education and research.
 

Structure of the Association
 

The structure of the Association consists of the following principal organs of governance: A General Conference which meets every four years with representatives of all its member institutions, to define the programs and budget of the Association; an Executive Board which meets once a year, and comprises a President, three Vice-presidents and nine Members elected from the five geographical sub-regions of Africa; and a Secretariat located in Accra and headed by a Secretary General, assisted by senior professional staff from the universities as well as local professional and support staff.
 

The Association started with thirty seven members, and today has a membership of 151 institutions in forty-three African countries. The membership includes public and private universities, research centers and other higher education institutions.
 

Among others AAU Services to Members include:
 

• staff exchange, which involves the exchange of external examiners, and teaching staff. The service also enables staff to participate in seminars, conferences and workshops in African universities outside his/her own country;

 
• fellowships and scholarships which are awarded to highly qualified students who have been offered admission to pursue graduate studies in African universities outside their countries of citizenship or normal residence;

 

• information exchange in which members in good financial standing receive free copies of all AAU publications which include a Newsletter, published three times a year, a directory on higher education, published biannually, research papers, occasional papers and conference/workshop proceedings. Additionally, the AAU Internet Homepage provides information on AAU member universities, and some useful Internet resources as well as links to partner organizations;

 
• Short term consultancies which involves the use of experts as
• short term consultants and resource person to carry out studies and prepare papers for the Association, and as facilitators for workshops and seminars. Member Universities are given the opportunity in the first instance to propose members of their staff for consideration for such assignments as and when the need arises.