Unam's Matengu to lead top continental university association
The University of Namibia (Unam) has announced that its vice-chancellor, Prof Dr Kenneth Matengu, has been elected as the 14th president of the governing board of the Association of African Universities (AAU).
The landmark election took place during the 16th AAU general conference, held in Rabat, Morocco, and was officially announced on 25 July, the final day of the event. Matengu secured a decisive victory, receiving 67.1% of the vote, while Prof Mohammed Rhachi of Mohammed V University in Rabat received 32.9%.
Matengu succeeds Prof. Saeed Bakri Osman from Sudan International University and will serve in this pivotal continental role alongside his responsibilities as Unam vice-chancellor, where he is currently in his second term.
Matengu is also serving his second term as president of the Pan-African University Council, a role to which he was re-elected in July 2024.
Reflecting on his election, Matengu remarked: “We must fast-track the continental quality assurance framework and harmonisation to enable the creation of our African Credit Transfer System. This will increase mobility and permit recognition of qualifications from the Francophone, Lusophone, and Anglophone systems of higher education.”
He expressed gratitude to the African vice chancellors for the confidence they have placed in him by electing him as president of Africa’s premier alliance of universities.
400 African universities
The AAU, established in Rabat in 1967 and headquartered in Accra, Ghana, is Africa’s apex association dedicated to enhancing the quality, relevance, and impact of higher education across the continent. The association represents over 400 African universities and champions research excellence, quality assurance, leadership development, inter-institutional collaboration, and strategic support of Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Unam issued a statement, congratulating Prof. Matengu "wholeheartedly and commits to supporting him in his new leadership role to advance African higher education, innovation and sustainable development."
The landmark election took place during the 16th AAU general conference, held in Rabat, Morocco, and was officially announced on 25 July, the final day of the event. Matengu secured a decisive victory, receiving 67.1% of the vote, while Prof Mohammed Rhachi of Mohammed V University in Rabat received 32.9%.
Matengu succeeds Prof. Saeed Bakri Osman from Sudan International University and will serve in this pivotal continental role alongside his responsibilities as Unam vice-chancellor, where he is currently in his second term.
Matengu is also serving his second term as president of the Pan-African University Council, a role to which he was re-elected in July 2024.
Reflecting on his election, Matengu remarked: “We must fast-track the continental quality assurance framework and harmonisation to enable the creation of our African Credit Transfer System. This will increase mobility and permit recognition of qualifications from the Francophone, Lusophone, and Anglophone systems of higher education.”
He expressed gratitude to the African vice chancellors for the confidence they have placed in him by electing him as president of Africa’s premier alliance of universities.
400 African universities
The AAU, established in Rabat in 1967 and headquartered in Accra, Ghana, is Africa’s apex association dedicated to enhancing the quality, relevance, and impact of higher education across the continent. The association represents over 400 African universities and champions research excellence, quality assurance, leadership development, inter-institutional collaboration, and strategic support of Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Unam issued a statement, congratulating Prof. Matengu "wholeheartedly and commits to supporting him in his new leadership role to advance African higher education, innovation and sustainable development."
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article