From January 2016 the International Alliance of Research Universities will welcome the University of Cape Town (UCT) as its 11th partner.
University of Cape Town will be the first African university to join this strategic partnership and the first new member since the formation of the alliance 10 years ago.
The University of Cape Town is widely regarded as the best university in Africa, with a growing research performance, high profile education and a dynamic institutional character. The participation of the University of Cape Town to IARU opens up a new exciting mix of opportunities to IARU students, staff and faculty.
Besides being a valuable collaboration network, IARU represents an important platform for exchange and reflection on issues that higher education institutions face in an increasingly global environment.
“The University of Cape Town will bring a new African perspective to the table – says IARU Chairman Ralf Hemmingsen, Rector of the University of Copenhagen – which will greatly enrich IARU’s dialogue among the members from different corners of the world”.
“Universities are operating in an increasingly complex, global and challenging environment,” says University of Cape Town Vice-Chancellor Dr Max Price. “It is vital that we learn from one another and that we ensure that African-specific perspectives are part of the conversation. The University of Cape Town very much looks forward to sharing its knowledge and resources in this global forum.”
IARU was established in 2006 by ten research-intensive universities as a strategic alliance to expand and deepen their collaboration. IARU universities share similar values, a global vision and a commitment to educating future world leaders. Central to these values is the importance of academic diversity and international collaboration.