On behalf of the Governing Board, members, Secretariat, and staff of the Association of African Universities (AAU), we express our sincere appreciation to all stakeholders who joined us for the virtual launch of the AAU Strategic Plan (2024–2030) held on August 14, 2024.

We are pleased to share with you the Strategic Plan documents launched during the event. Please find them below:

1. Main Strategic Plan
2. Abridged Strategic Plan
3. AAU Focal Areas

In keeping with best practices, the AAU reviewed its strategic plan to remain aligned with global trends and to enhance service delivery to our member universities. The new strategic plan reflects a comprehensive, bottom-up approach in its development, prioritizing intellectual engagement on critical issues that address Africa’s developmental aspirations amid changing global dynamics and increasing competition in higher education.

The AAU is committed to continuing its role as a platform for discussions on African higher education, with key resolutions shared and disseminated to all relevant stakeholders. This revised strategic plan emphasizes the significant contributions of African higher education to international development agendas, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. It also aligns with the ongoing evaluations of the CESA 16-25 and STISA 2024 frameworks as they transition into their next phases.

We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who joined us for the official launch of this strategic plan and look forward to the continued support of the African higher education community in ensuring its success.

For the 2024-2030 period, the AAU will focus on five key strategic areas:

• A favorable higher education policy environment promoted in Africa at national, regional, and continental levels supported by evidence-based advocacy.
• The capacities of AAU Member Universities strengthened to deliver on their mandates.
• Higher education in Africa harmonized and standardized to enhance inter-institutional collaboration, networking, and competitiveness.
• Research Excellence and Management advanced as a mechanism of impacting Africa’s development.
• Innovations promoted to impact African Higher Education Systems and Africa’s Development

New AAU Focal Areas for the AAU – 2024 – 2030:

• Research
• Higher Education Access and Mobility
• Responding to Emerging Issues
• Higher Education Capacity Building and Empowerment
• Building the African Higher Education Space (Quality Higher Education for Skills and Competencies)
• Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence
• Advocacy Platform for Collaboration
• AAU Diaspora Programme
• AAU Television and Public Broadcasting
• Continental Initiatives
• Collaboration and Partnerships for Higher Education Development
• African Research Innovation and Development Network (AfRID)

Prof. Olusola Oyewole

Secretary General

Association of African Universities