Vision, mission and values

Vision

At Initiative Afrique, we are convinced that “global challenges demand global solutions” and that academic partnerships with research institutions from Africa represent a considerable asset for high-quality solution-oriented research and evidence-based solutions for Africa and Europe, specifically Switzerland.

Mission

Initiative Afrique promotes, deepens, plans, structures and coordinates partnerships between the University of Bern and partner institutions from the African continent in Education, Research and Innovation based on the principles of equity at eye level.

Values

In line with the values of the University of Bern, Initiative Afrique strives to set up equitable partnerships with the African continent in high-quality Education, Research and Innovation. Our values are: mutual respect, openness, and intercultural sensitivity.

Strategy

Based on the leitmotif “global challenges demand global solutions”, Initiative Afrique, as a unit established in the central division, follows the vision and mission of the University of Bern, which recognises itself as a knowledge society. Challenges such as climate change, the protection of human health, regional inequalities, the development of social innovation capacity, digital transformation, demographic change, scarcity of resources, urbanisation, the rule of law, media change and armed conflicts present mankind with immense difficulties that can only be solved in international partnership. In this context, the partnership with Africa is a key strategic opportunity for the University of Bern to tackle these global challenges. In line with the University of Bern's Internationalisation Strategy 2030, Initiative Afrique promotes, deepens, plans, structures and coordinates cooperation between the university and partner institutions from the African continent in Education, Research and Innovation. In this sense, cooperation with Africa is based on the principle of equal partnerships, according to which each partner is valued in the generation, dissemination and transformation of knowledge.

Our strategy is based on the following:

• Identify potential partnerships from the African International Network and find support for Africa-related projects and Academic Exchanges.
• Engage in efforts to promote Equity and Decolonisation in Research Collaboration between Africa and the Global North, The Principles for Research in Partnership of The Swiss Alliance for Global Research Partnerships (GRP-Alliance)  and the Africa Charter.
• Contribute to the implementation of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda.

Activities

• Maintain and establish international research collaborations with African partners and Africa-related teaching topics: The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities (The Guild), the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), and the European University alliance ENLIGHT, as well as with national institutions, such as the Swiss Society for African Studies (SSAS).
• Outreach about all activities related to its members through:

                  a) A podcast series about Initiative Afrique community members.

                  b) A biannual Newsletter with all activities and research outputs.

• Support the activities of the All-Africa Ubuntu Association, whose aims include helping and integrating new African students and staff of the University of Bern, and organising academic and cultural activities.