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[The CIVIS Newsroom ](https://civis.eu/fr/the-civis-newsroom) 2. CIVIS Secretary General encourages Associate Member Universities in Africa to shape the future of the alliance together CIVIS Secretary General encourages Associate Member Universities in Africa to shape the future of the alliance together ========================================================================================================================= CIVIS Highlights 19 mai 2025 African-European science collaboration, equitable partnerships, third-party funding strategies, and promoting and creating awareness of the CIVIS Alliance amongst academics and students. These were some of the subjects tackled at the University of the Witwatersrand during a strategic visit paid by the Secretary-General of CIVIS, Stefan Lang. *"We have the opportunity to shape CIVIS 3 together",* concluded Lang. ![](/storage/files/civis-visit-15.jpg) ©University of the Witwatersrand Having spent time as a postgraduate in Mozambique in the early 2000s, mapping the floods, and in Botswana, Stefan Lang is an advocate for Africa. He now started a series of strategic visits to the CIVIS associate universities to strengthen collaboration, share best practices, and collectively envision the future of the alliance. The commitment to reshape higher education and research together was highlighted during the visit to the University of the Witwatersrand, in Johannesburg, South Africa: > *We are excited to be associated with CIVIS, which gives us an opportunity to revisit how universities interact and collaborate and how knowledge and talent are shared globally. My sense is that a truly global network of universities must leverage the strengths of diverse educational systems while addressing local needs, and CIVIS provides the ideal vehicle in this moment in time. Now more than ever global solidarity and partnerships will be the lifeblood of thriving universities”, s*aid professor Ruksana Osman, leader of Wits’ CIVIS association. The [Alliance Agreement with CIVIS](https://civis.eu/de/get-informed/aktuelles/civis-member-universities-sign-alliance-agreement-salzburg) was signed by Wits in 2024: *“Although we have numerous direct partnerships with universities in the EU, this new agreement will institutionalise cooperation with the entire Alliance and its members. This is an opportunity for us to level the playing fields and to develop equal partnerships in unequal societies”*, said back then Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal. Awareness, engagement, equality -------------------------------- During the meetings, the leaders of CVIS Hubs 1, 2, 3 and 5 at Wits highlighted the lines of collaboration with the Alliance, looked deep into areas where collaboration can be improved and brainstormed on solutions: - Fossil access and student mobility has produced publications within Hub2, that focuses on [Society, culture, heritag](https://civis.eu/en/teach-and-research/our-hubs/hub-2) - Professor Turgay Celik, from of Hub 5, working on [Digital and Technological transformation](https://civis.eu/en/teach-and-research/our-hubs/hub-5-digital-and-technological-transformation),underlined the need for targeted communications to academics to create awareness, enable, and drive the hubs; - Infectious diseases such as HIV and TB is another network potential area, thinks Professor Yahya Choonara, Wits' leader of Hub 3 (that tackles [Health](https://civis.eu/en/teach-and-research/our-hubs/hub-3-health)), thus benifitting from Wits' strong research on this matter. - Professor Ute Schwaibold, the local leader of Hub 1 on [Climate, environment and energy](https://civis.eu/en/teach-and-research/our-hubs/hub-1-climate-energy-and-envirnoment), stressed the importance of internal communications amongst the hubs. *“We’re working in silos,”* she said; - Professor Marion Bamford of the Evolutionary Studies Institute recommended detailed collaboration agreements before projects start. Stefan Lang encouraged Wits academics to bring their ideas to the network: *“Things are not set in stone and there is a willingness to change; we can modify. Staff exchange hubs are being built until October”,* he explained. ![](/storage/files/civis-visit-2.jpg) ©Wits ### BIPs potential Another topic of the meetings were the Blended Intensive Programmes, one of CIVIC' big success stories, for which *dual degrees* are being explored: > *This year, Wits students will get their degree certificate, as well as individual certificates,”* said Dr Mahomed Moolla, the Wits-CIVIS originator. Wits is the first host university of a CIVIS blended intensive programme in Africa. *[Maternal and neonatal vaccination](https://civis.eu/en/learn/civis-courses/maternal-and-neonatal-vaccination)* has already started and it will end on the 25th of July, with the physical mobility week in Johannesburg. ### PolyCIVIS' success story Another key success story within the collaboration is CIVS alliance project [PolyCIVIS](https://civis.eu/fr/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/civis-alliance-projects/polycivis), said Lang, underlining the importance of the [polycrisis handbook](https://civis.eu/fr/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/civis-alliance-projects/polycivis/publications-and-outcomes), launched at the PolyCIVIS Conference in Dakar, this April: > *Approaching these polycrises holistically is only possible if you have multiple cultures, and I think it is the answer. This is a big chance to bring in these different research traditions. Our experiences are different, but the vision and how to cope is a joint one",* highlights Stefan Lang. Wits administrative staff members have also started their collaboration with their European colleagues in CIVIS bodies, especially in the different Units. The secretary-General of CIVIS aims for collaboration that builds trust and public engagement with Africa and sees the continuation of the Erasmus+ funding (CIVIS 3) as a *"big chance to change the game".* With the new generation of funding in preparation, we have the opportunity to shape the next generation of CIVIS together, concluded Lang. **More details regarding prof. Lang's visit are available in the [original story](https://www.wits.ac.za/news/latest-news/research-news/2025/2025-05/levelling-the-african-european-academic-playing-fields-.html), published on Wits' website.** ### Latest Highlights: [*University of Bucharest rallies presidential candidates to defend Romania’s Euro-Atlantic path in historic call for democracy*](https://civis.eu/en/get-informed/news/university-of-bucharest-rallies-presidential-candidates-to-defend-romania-s-euro-atlantic-path-in-historic-call-for-democracy) *[UNIL, UofG and Makerere rethink breathing in a changing world with Exp-Air Lab, powered by CIVIS](https://civis.eu/en/get-informed/news/unil-rethinks-breathing-in-a-changing-world-with-exp-air-lab-powered-by-civis)* *[The saltwater tolerance is what kept the dinosaur-eating giant crocodile alive, UT-led study reveals](https://civis.eu/en/get-informed/news/the-saltwater-tolerance-is-what-kept-the-dinosaur-eating-giant-crocodile-alive-ut-led-study-reveals)* *[aMU delves into the colonial history of Marseille aboard the Mars Imperium portal](https://civis.eu/en/get-informed/news/amu-delves-into-the-colonial-history-of-marseille-aboard-the-mars-imperium-portal)* [*Why do Spaniards feel lonely? A UAM-led study tells us*](https://civis.eu/en/get-informed/news/why-do-spaniards-feel-lonely-a-uam-led-study-tells-us) Related news ------------ - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/civis-coms-unit-casablanca-4-800x600.jpg?token=852ccbd6465c7ebee1f78f93221e7910)Face à des défis communs, des solutions conjointes pour l'Afrique et l'Europe African Partner Universities 31 mars 2026 ](https://civis.eu/fr/the-civis-newsroom/facing-common-challenges-shaping-joint-solutions-for-africa-and-europe) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/casa-800x600.jpg?token=17d19f63b525167bf3cf2a53535ac3f4)Le premier Forum CIVIS Afrique-Europe pour la recherche et l'éducation se poursuit aujourd'hui à Casablanca Research 16 février 2026 ](https://civis.eu/fr/the-civis-newsroom/compte-a-rebours-pour-1er-forum-afro-europeen-civis-pour-la-recherche-et-l-education-a-casablanca) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/civis-bip-at-baragwanath-hospital-17-800x600.jpg?token=4eae4c83506ebc2cc7cfd762192799cd)The BIPs went to South Africa: Exploring Maternal & Neonatal Immunisation in Johannesburg CIVIS Highlights 19 septembre 2025 ](https://civis.eu/fr/the-civis-newsroom/bips-went-to-south-africa-exploring-maternal-neonatal-immunisation-johannesburg) [Découvrez toutes nos aventures](https://civis.eu/fr/the-civis-newsroom) [ Tackling cancer together: five CIVIS universities receive prestigious EU funding for innovative research network ](< https://civis.eu/fr/the-civis-newsroom/tackling-cancer-together-five-civis-universities-receive-prestigious-eu-funding-for-innovative-research-network >) [ CIVIS joins call urging greater EU Investment in global research and higher education ](< https://civis.eu/fr/the-civis-newsroom/civis-joins-call-urging-greater-eu-investment-in-global-research-and-higher-education >) ![CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance](https://civis.eu/build/assets/civis-CCpvK1nT.svg) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Europe’s Civic University Alliance ![Co-funded by the European Union](https://civis.eu/build/assets/co-funded-by-the-european-union-DSKLW1us.png)Views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). 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