The programme was developed in cooperation with the University of Saida and the Africa-UniNet Board. In collaboration with members of the General Assembly and interested stakeholders, the programme is continuously being expanded and refined. It is based on three pillars: Network Administration, Scientific Exchange and Networking and Cooperation Opportunities.

Network Administration: According to the Africa-UniNet Statutes, General Assembly Meetings are held regularly, alternating between Austria and African partner countries. In 2026, members will elect a new Africa-UniNet Board, including a new President and Vice-President. The meeting will also provide an opportunity to reflect on lessons learned and discuss possible updates to selected processes and provisions of the Africa-UniNet Statutes.

Scientific Exchange: Scientific exchange is a core element of Africa-UniNet. To date, more than 100 Africa-UniNet projects have been implemented. The General Assembly Meeting provides a platform to present project results and discuss current developments in research, higher education, and international cooperation through the keynote "Translating Science into Practice", the plenary sessions "Science Diplomacy and Sustainable Partnerships" and "Open Knowledge and Innovation in Higher Education and Research", as well as the parallel sessions "Shaping Sustainable Spaces and Environments" and "Shaping Sustainable Futures through Health and Technology". Africa-UniNet project partners will also present their work in a poster exhibition.

Future Cooperation: The event provides opportunities to build new academic connections, explore funding opportunities, and strengthen long-term partnerships between higher education and research institutions across Africa and Austria. The session "From Funding to Future Cooperation" will explore how science diplomacy, funding programmes, and academic mobility can support long-term institutional cooperation. The Institutional Exchange Fair will offer participating institutions a space to present their activities, exchange ideas, and identify opportunities for future collaboration.
 

Representatives of all active Africa-UniNet member institutions are invited to participate in the meeting. Good and balanced representation of member institutions is necessary to further strengthen the network and to carry out the upcoming elections and revision of the statutes. Please note that member institutions must have paid the 2026 membership fee by 28 February 2026.

Africa-UniNet can only finance one Africa-UniNet representative per active Africa-UniNet member institution (membership 2026)  for this General Assembly. In case the official Africa-UniNet representative is unable to attend the meeting, she/he can nominate a substitute. Please inform the Africa-UniNet Office accordingly. Only participants registering by 31 March 2026 can be considered.

For the Africa-UniNet Representative (or a substitute) of an active member institution, the following costs (only) will be covered by Africa-UniNet:

• Flight costs to and from the home institution to Oran or Algiers. All flights must be booked through the Africa-UniNet Office and will be arranged using the most cost-effective option available.
• 3 nights of accommodation in Saida, plus 1 night in Oran or Algiers on arrival and 1 night in Oran or Algiers on departure. Accommodation will be arranged and booked by the hosts; individual hotel bookings are therefore not possible.
• Catering will be provided during the General Assembly as outlined in the programme.

Transfer from Oran or Algiers to Saida and back will be organised and financed by University of Saida.

Africa-UniNet cannot organise or reimburse any other costs, including further travel costs, medical insurance, visa fees, transport to and from the airport of departure, additional lay-overs, vaccination, additional meals, per diems etc.
 

Project partners of Africa-UniNet projects are invited to participate in the meeting. Their presence is vital to share project results and to showcase the impact of Africa-UniNet in the scientific community. Partners from projects selected in the third and fourth calls are particularly encouraged to participate and are asked to present their results at a poster exhibition.

Travel and accommodation expenses for project partners of ongoing projects selected in the 3rd and 4th Call (only) may be covered from their respective project funds, up to the maximum amount specified in the contract, provided this does not lead to a reduction in project activities and the total approved budget is not exceeded. A further requirement is that participating project partners present a poster at the poster exhibition during the event. If you wish to use project funds for this purpose, a budget reallocation within the project is required; please contact the Africa-UniNet Office by 31 March 2026.
 

Representatives from Algerian higher education and research institutions will be asked to join the meeting to introduce participants to the Algerian higher education sector and to facilitate direct contact with other Algerian universities and research institutions. Their presence will help to promote Africa-UniNet in the scientific community in Algeria.

OeAD will be represented by colleagues from Africa-UniNet, APPEAR, KoEF and Erasmus+ and will present both national funding opportunities as well as EU initiatives. It is also envisaged to invite a representative of the Austrian Embassy in Algiers to provide an overview of the political and economic relations.

The programme is open to all researchers, students and administrators who are interested in Africa-UniNet, in research collaborations between institutions in Austria and Algeria, or in research collaborations between institutions in Austria and Africa-UniNet member institutions at large.