North-South cooperation between higher education institutions has long been a common instrument of development cooperation in the education sector. At the level of research, North-South partnerships have increasingly become a preferred strategy for funding mechanisms for research on and in countries of the global South. Transnational cooperation and partnership projects are considered particularly useful for capacity building in institutions in the global South. In recent years, "equity" between Northern and Southern partners has increasingly become an important condition for funding. Experience shows, however, that equitable relationships are difficult to establish and require a number of preconditions.
In Austria, institutional cooperation programmes in higher education play a key role in the education sector of Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC). ADC's main financial instrument in this sector, the APPEAR programme, has successfully supported institutional and individual capacity building in its partner institutions since its launch in 2009. Another long-standing cooperation programme financed by ADC since 1975 is the Education and Research Hub for the Sustainable Management of Aquatic Ecosystems in Eastern Africa (AQUAHUB). The programme, which includes Joint International Masters Programmes in Limnology between universities in Austria, the Netherlands, Kenya and Ethiopia, has successfully contributed to establishing limnology as a scientific discipline in the East African region. In 2020, Africa-UniNet was established to support networking and cooperation between universities and research institutions in Austria and African countries. The programme is funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research, as is the programme Cooperation Development Research, which complements the funding landscape.
Presentations
The workshop started with contributions from three speakers who discussed the topic from different perspectives.
Following the discussion, the participants split into working groups to discuss and to shed light on the topic from different angles.
Important findings from the working groups and the subsequent plenary discussion can be summarised as follows.
Key factors and preconditions for equitable partnerships
- Successful long-term projects require commitment, continuity and mutual trust. Seed funding and frameworks such as APPEAR, Africa-UniNet and KoEF play a crucial role in launching projects, institutionalising efforts and ensuring long-term impact.
- Balancing the need for external funding with equitable partnerships is challenging but essential. Strong relationships between partners and funders promote collaborative problem solving. Flexibility and avoiding overly formal programme structures are key to adaptive success.
- Trust, built through face-to-face interactions, is crucial. Long-term collaboration promotes mutual learning, shared ownership and cooperation. Intrinsic team motivation drives collaboration alongside financial support.
- Commitment from university leaders is essential for success.
- Alumni engagement strengthens ties with partner countries and creates opportunities for sustainable cooperation. Aligning projects with local contexts and stakeholder needs ensures relevance. Application-oriented approaches benefit both sides.
Challenges for partnerships
- Contextual challenges such as underfunding, institutional volatility and political instability affect universities in partner countries. Privatisation of universities poses further financial challenges for universities and their graduates.
- Divergent mindsets and approaches to science and academia hinder mutual learning and the appreciation of alternative perspectives.
- Short project durations and limited opportunities for personal interactions restrict broader institutional impact.
- Staff turnover, management changes and administrative burdens make processes difficult to navigate.
Recommendations
- Strengthening university cooperation requires long-term commitment and consistent funding. Preparatory and seed funding is essential to initiate projects, as is funding for students. Matchmaking initiatives can further enhance partnerships and programme effectiveness. Ensuring the potential for continuation promotes sustainability.
- Long-term collaboration that promotes mutual learning, shared ownership and cooperation should be supported. Overly formal programme structures should be avoided, and administration be kept simple.
- Austrian institutions should enhance cooperation, change mindsets and promote dialogue. High-level commitment and improved communication between universities can highlight the added value of projects. Expanding networks, promoting visibility and ensuring open access adds to sustainability.
- Collaboration and exchange between project partners, funding agencies and donors, including Austrian ministries, can deepen contextual understanding. Joint funding programmes could be developed.
