Africa has always been an important partner for the DAAD. In view of the current geopolitical shifts, the question arises as to how cooperation can and must be rethought in the future. The conference “Co-Creating Knowledge: Africa and the G7+” in Berlin sought for answers.

The world is in a state of upheaval. Geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainties and an increasing questioning of the existing international order characterise global events. In this context, representatives of African and G7+ countries met in Berlin to discuss the future of university cooperation. The focus was on the question of how equal partnerships and shared responsibility can be organised in academic cooperation.

Kai Sicks, Secretary General of the DAAD, emphasised the long history of cooperation, but at the same time called for further development. He said that the DAAD had made a conscious decision to look beyond Europe and focus on Africa. “Africa is Europe's neighbouring continent and has long been a close cooperation partner." The question now is: “How can we further strengthen these connections and develop them into more resilient partnerships?” Sicks referred to formats such as “Leadership for Africa” or projects in the area of the SDGs, which always aim to improve the labour market opportunities of young talent in African countries; but here, too, the constant evaluation remains as to “whether these offers really serve mutual benefit” and how to deal with new priorities and needs.

University cooperation in a fragmented world order

Dr Serwah Prempeh, Senior Fellow at the Berlin think tank Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI), set the geopolitical framework in her keynote speech: “The liberal international order is being challenged on many fronts. The rise of China, the remilitarisation of Europe through the Ukraine war, the strategic shifts in the Middle East; all of this is also changing the cooperation environment for universities.” Higher education remains a geostrategic instrument: “A cheap but effective means of securing influence, stabilising markets and shaping elites.”

At the same time, a global competition for Africa's attention is underway. While some G7 countries are withdrawing from development policy commitments, other players are making pragmatic offers – less paternalistic, less bureaucratic. “African actors have more choice today—and they are using it,” says Prempeh. This multipolarity is not a risk, but an opportunity: “How do we manage to develop inviting, non-patronising partnership narratives that recognise our responsibility without reproducing colonial patterns of interpretation?”

Flexible structures, long-term horizons

The panel discussion chaired by Michael Harms, Deputy Secretary General of the DAAD, on the topic “Local, regional, global solutions? Setting a joint agenda in African scientific cooperation” tried to give answers. The main challenges identified were short-term project cycles, rigid bureaucracy and asymmetrical decision-making processes. Anna Maria Nhampule, Vice-Rector of the Universidade Joaquim Chissano, Mozambique, put it in a nutshell: “Too often, a project ends when the money runs out—along with its knowledge, its processes and its people.” What is missing, she said, is a shared institutional memory, a strategic anchoring of partnerships at eye level. Or, as she put it: “If we don't change our mindset, we'll discuss it—but we'll carry on as before.”

Self-criticism was also voiced from the perspective of the funding organisations. Gro Tjore, President of the Academic Cooperation Association and Deputy Director of the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-DIR Norway), called for a new kind of bureaucracy: “Bureaucracy should be democratic, transparent and accessible - not burdensome.” Digital tools now offer every opportunity for co-creation in real time—even across continents. It is important that funding formats are "no longer characterised by the spirit of capacity building alone”, but by “mutual academic interest” and the complementarity of both sides. Maddalaine Ansell, Director Education at the British Council, added: “If one side brings in more money, we still need to ensure that management and strategic control are shared.” Fairness is also required in the utilisation of results: “Too many publications from international projects end up bearing only the name of the G7 partners – that is not acceptable.”

Strategic realism

If African universities today no longer look primarily towards Europe, but also towards China, India or the Gulf region—what does this mean for Europe's role? Ansell advocated strategic realism: “We have to interlink ourselves so closely with our partners that the way back is more difficult than the way forward. And we need to show young researchers that it is easier to work with us than with China.”

“African governments and institutions must invest in knowledge production”

“True international cooperation in higher education must be rooted in equity. For us in Africa, this means that research conducted on the continent, whether funded from the Global North or elsewhere, should respond to African needs and priorities. It should be relevant to African issues and not just to do research for the purpose or the wishes of the north.

It is essential that our governments and institutions also take ownership by investing in knowledge production. But we must go further: instead of lamenting brain drain, we must embrace brain circulation. The African diaspora represents an enormous reservoir of expertise, and we must establish sustainable mechanisms, such as virtual teaching, co-supervision models, and online faculties, that allow scholars abroad to contribute meaningfully to African universities, wherever they are.

Equally important is the need to intensify South-South collaboration. For too long, African researchers have looked primarily to the North for partners. Today, we must also foster intra-African cooperation and build strong research ecosystems within the Global South. I commend the DAAD not only for its historic support—which I personally benefitted from as a PhD student—but also for its willingness to reflect critically on the future. Events like this help reimagine a truly reciprocal model of global academic exchange.”

“Students and scholars are multipliers of innovation, dialogue, and critical thinking”

“At Campus France, we believe that academic mobility should serve as a vehicle for mutual development, not a one-way talent drain. Brain circulation, or ‘Brain Care’ as I would coin it, must be supported by long-term, equitable partnerships—programs that connect African researchers with peers in France while ensuring that skills and knowledge flow back to benefit local institutions. 52 per cent of our international students in France come from the African continent. This is why we invest in alumni engagement, capacity building, and initiatives like ‘Partnership for Economic Policy’ (PEAP) and ‘Make Our Planet Great Again’, which fund research directly tied to the needs of African countries. Our France Alumni Day, celebrated in many African countries, helps strengthen ties beyond graduation and fosters lasting networks of collaboration, economic links, and cultural understanding.

But we must also confront the political realities within Europe. In light of growing demographic and research challenges in Europe, we must continue to welcome talent while respecting the ambitions of our partners. The future of global higher education depends on our ability to build systems that are fair, reciprocal, and rooted in trust. Students and scholars are not a burden; they are multipliers of innovation, dialogue, and critical thinking. And the added value of such partnerships cannot be measured solely in economic terms—they build bridges, promote peace, and foster a global citizenship mindset.”

“There is still a very strong economic case for governments to invest in international partnerships”

“Equitable international partnerships are not simply about resources, they are about relationships built on trust, empathy, and shared strategic goals. Before any collaboration begins, partners must listen to each other respectfully and ensure that the project reflects what each side hopes to achieve. Too often, wealthier institutions dominate due to funding asymmetries. Creative courage is needed to shift this dynamic and channel resources in ways that also serve the ambitions of less powerful partners. That includes equitable leadership, fair recognition of intellectual contributions, and genuine co-creation.

But partnerships aren’t just technical; they’re emotional. People have quite a deep need to feel valued and respected and that perhaps this is something that hasn't been properly recognised so far. So past imbalances still resonate. Feelings of frustration must be acknowledged if we are to build mutual respect and move forward. Excellence alone is not enough; people need to feel valued. Governance models that embed co-ownership, such as the British Council’s capacity-building work in Pakistan, offer helpful blueprints.

There is still a very strong economic case for governments to invest in international partnerships. You can see that there are spillover benefits beyond the immediate institution to institution cooperation. But to ensure long-term sustainability, we must also think beyond government funding, important though it is. Diversifying support through philanthropy and industry can provide resilience but must be handled with care to protect academic integrity. I think that's the line that has to be walked you have to be idealistic but also pragmatic.” 

“True equity means shared agendas, mutual respect, and clear commitments”

“Digital transformation is no longer optional—it is essential. At the University of Ghana, we launched an ambitious digitalization agenda, including the One Student, One Laptop initiative, to equip all our graduates with the skills they need to thrive globally, regardless of discipline. Our students are learning to become digital citizens prepared for life beyond academia.

But transformation isn’t only technological, it’s cultural. As Vice Chair of the African Research Universities Alliance, I see how cross-continental research partnerships thrive when we co-create knowledge from the outset. Equitable partnerships must recognise African knowledge systems as legitimate, not treat our institutions as mere data collection sites. Research outcomes—ideas, data, intellectual property—must be shared fairly and transparently. This includes respect for identity, cultural differences, and indigenous knowledge systems.

True equity means shared agendas, mutual respect, and clear commitments. It also requires emotional intelligence—acknowledging trust, past imbalances, and the lived realities of collaboration. If these values are embedded from the beginning, we won’t just conduct research; we will build lasting, transformative partnerships.”

Text and protocol: Klaus Lüber (20 May 2025)