About Africa-UniNet

hand reaching into a big bowl which is filled with citrus fruits © BOKU/Melcher Andreas

General Information

The Austrian-African Research Network Africa-UniNet was initiated by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) and launched by Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD-GmbH) and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU).

Its objective is to create a long-term, stable basis for cooperation between Austrian and African universities and research institutions.

Africa-UniNet intends to promote new contacts, deepen scientific cooperation and provide excellent opportunities for innovative joint research projects.

Africa-UniNet is funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF).

Goals & Tasks

As stated in the network’s statutes, Africa-UniNet has the following main goals and tasks:

  • Promoting cooperation between academic institutions
  • Initiating research projects and research & education projects based on common interests
  • Establishing a solid communication structure between Austrian and African higher education institutions and scientific institutions
  • Creating a platform for long-term science discourses
  • Establishing contacts with governmental and non-governmental organisations
  • Providing expertise on the higher education and research landscape in Austria and Africa
  • Raising donations and third-party funds
  • Other cooperation, such as in the area of further education

Organisational structure of Africa-UniNet

This is a diagram of the organisational structure of the Afrika-UniNet © Africa-UniNet Statutes

The diagram above shows the primary bodies and positions within Africa-UniNet.

All representatives of member institutions from the same country nominate a country representative. Country representatives will regulary meet in national network meetings. They are entitled to vote the members of the board at the general assembly.

The general assembly includes one representative of every member institutions. Its meeting takes place at least once a year, alternating between Austria and a country in Africa. In the general assembly, the country representatives elect the members of the board. All persons who represent a member institution are eligible for election.

The board must consist of 3 Austrian and 3 African representatives.

The members of the board shall appoint the president from among their number and the vice-president on the proposal of the president. If the president comes from Austria, the vice-president shall be elected from among the African members of the network and vice versa.

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Hubert Hasenauer of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) will be the president of Africa-UniNet in its constituent phase and during the first three years of the network.

To support the operational tasks of Africa-UniNet and to ensure continuity throughout the presidencies, an Africa-UniNet Office will be established at OeAD-GmbH. The office will be funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF).

Statutes

The Africa-UniNet Statutes regulate the cooperation structure, the support provided by Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD-GmbH), the various procedures and tasks as well as the decision-making processes and the tasks of the committees.