British Academy: The UK's National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences

Foreword by Baroness Amos

The UK has a vital part to play in assisting African universities to strengthen their research base.This report makes an important contribution to that discussion by setting out how this might be done. It manages to capture the essence of a conversation between African and UK researchers, and the organisations that fund and support them, about the concrete steps which could be taken.

There is much in the report that relates to the need for change and reform within African universities.They face significant challenges which can only be tackled from within. But the report also makes a clear case for partnership and collaboration.The UK has a substantial community of academics and experts focused on researching and reporting African issues.The Royal African Society and the African Studies Association of the UK are two organisations which seek to bring these interests together, and to encourage a richer and more realistic understanding of the continent, as well as a number of specialist African studies centres and individual researchers.

There is great potential to increase and expand collaboration here in the UK, and with our counterparts in Africa.This will assist us in improving our knowledge of the African continent and assist African institutions and researchers as they seek the time and space to reflect critically and analytically on a range of issues.We need to find opportunities to celebrate the great diversity – and potential of – the continent’s many social, religious and linguistic forms,and the creativity of its people and places. African research is needed which is set firmly within African intellectual frameworks and is embedded in African approaches.The onus is on all of us to support this whenever we can.

Baroness Amos
Chair of the Royal African Society

Navigation: Report homepage | Contents |  < Foreword by Dr Thankdika Mkandawire | Preface by Professor Duncan Gallie>