Western Sydney University launches African partnerships

Professor Barney Glover AO, Vice-Chancellor and President of Western Sydney University; Professor Willis Oluoch-Kosura, Faculty of Agriculture University of Nairobi; Professor Athula Ginige, Western Sydney University; Dr David Jakinda, University of Nairobi; and Dr Angela Andago, Faculty of Agriculture University of Nairobi.

Western Sydney University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Barney Glover AO, will meet with leading African universities on his inaugural visit to the region. The trip will strengthen existing research relationships, establish key Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) and further the work of the Australia Africa Universities Network (AAUN).

The two-week visit will span Johannesburg, Cape Town, Nairobi, Zimbabwe, Pretoria, Nelspruit, Kampala and Uganda, and incorporate meetings with universities and government to highlight Western’s world-leading work in public health, diabetes and food security, among other opportunities.

“This visit will deepen the educational and research partnerships between universities in Africa and Australia. I anticipate an intensification and broadening of interactions between Western Sydney University and key institutions in this region in the next few years,” Professor Glover AO said in Nairobi today.

As part of the trip, Professor Glover will also meet up with Godfrey Mudhune, who is a leading epidemiologist in Laikipia, an Australia Awards Winner and Western Sydney University alumnus; and will attend a formal reception with the High Commissioner, Austrade.

Formally constituted on 1 January 1989 and celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Western Sydney University has grown to become one of the world’s leading universities and the largest, most established higher education institution in Western Sydney, with more than 48,000 students, 3000 staff and a cohort – both locally and globally – of more than 190,000 alumni. More than 20,000+ of the University’s alumni are working overseas in 128 countries.

With the third largest economy in Australia, behind the Sydney CBD and Melbourne, the Western Sydney region’s population is the fastest growing in Australia – by 2030, it will be greater than the rest of Sydney – and currently more than 150 of the nation's top 500 companies are located here.

Western Sydney University credentials:

  • Ranked Number 1 in the world for addressing gender equality, and ranked Number 2 in the world for reducing inequalities by promoting inclusive and equitable quality education, according to the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.
  • Ranked in the top 2% of universities worldwide and in the top 100 young universities in the world according to Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
  • 85% of assessed research is rated at world standard or above according to the latest Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) evaluation.
  • Ranked five stars for teaching, employability, internationalisation, facilities, innovation and inclusiveness according to the QS Top Universities: QS Star Ratings 2019.

ENDS

30 July 2019

Clare Patience, Senior Media Officer