The first AFRI CONVERSE session in 2025, which took place at Hiroshima University in Japan on 7^th March, explored the future of Japan-Africa academic collab

oration and highlighted the role of research, innovation, and cross-cultural exchanges in furthering the Sustainable Development Goals across Africa. This event, which is part of a dialogue series that promotes the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), brought together over 240 participants in person and online.

The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Raymond Gilpin, Chief Economist at UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa, who noted the expanding opportunities for collaboration between African and Japanese universities and highlighted the potentially transformative development impact of such collaboration. The conversation examined strategic approaches to leveraging these partnerships to address pressing global challenges. It also touched on a broad range of issues, from funding and equipment access to the importance of research addressing Africa's development needs. 

Hiroshima University’s Commitment

The session opened with a keynote speech by Dr. Shinji Kaneko, Executive Vice President (Global Initiatives) at Hiroshima University, who outlined what the university does for Japan-Africa academic collaboration. He highlighted the growing presence of African students at Hiroshima University, noting that the institution currently hosts over 120 students from more than 30 African countries. Dr. Kaneko also shared that Hiroshima University has established 21 partnership agreements with universities across Africa, including the African Union and 9 African countries. The university has also established an overseas base in Cairo, Egypt, to foster stronger ties with the continent.

The university's "Japan-Africa Triangle Education Program" is a unique and innovative student exchange program involving Egypt, Zambia, and Malawi. Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, the program successfully sent 50 students from Japan to Northern and Southern African countries for in-person exchanges. Additionally, Dr. Kaneko spoke about the strategic agreement between Hiroshima University and the Pan African University. This partnership will annually nominate 20 to 25 PhD students over the next five years, sending them to Hiroshima with a broadened focus extending beyond social sciences and education to include science and engineering disciplines.

Evaluating University Collaboration and Its Effectiveness

Mr. Daisuke Ueda, Deputy Director General and Group Director for Higher Education and Social Security Group, Human Development Department, JICA, introduced JICA’s commitment to enhancing capacity building as well as university collaboration between Japan and Africa. JICA supports initiatives such as the Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology, and Kenya's Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. These universities now play a vital role in regional cooperation, attracting students from across Africa. Looking ahead, JICA is working to establish an Africa-Japan University Network, aimed at promoting joint education and research between African and Japanese universities. Mr. Ueda identified four main challenges in expanding university collaboration between Japan and Africa:

1. Mutual interest and understanding, hindered by physical, cultural, and historical distances.
2. Building human and organizational connections, particularly through increasing the number of African students studying in Japan and vice versa.
3. Aligning research priorities between Japanese and African universities.
4. High costs for travel and logistics, limiting funding for joint initiatives.

Ms. Yoko Shimpuku, Professor, Global Health Nursing, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, shared her hands-on experience working with the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in Tanzania, emphasizing the growing social demand for health sciences across Africa. She highlighted the significant benefits of international collaboration, including access to unique data and the opportunity to publish in high-impact journals, which enhances the global visibility of research by Japanese universities. Ms. Shimpuku also stressed the importance of exposing students to global health challenges, discussing the Japan-Africa Triangle Education Program, launched in 2021, which has inspired many Japanese students to pursue careers in global health by studying in Africa.  

Ms. Shino Manabe, a first-year Master's student at the International Education Development Program, Division of Educational Sciences, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, shared her transformative experience in the Triangle Program in Malawi. Inspired by the kindness of her Malawian fellows at the University, she developed a deep interest in the culture and people of Malawi. During her stay, she engaged in discussions with locals on politics, social programs, and cultural practices, and learned that proactive communication and self-expression were quite vital without worrying about making mistakes. Ms. Manabe's experience broadened her understanding of Malawi and emphasized the value of cultural exchange and global dialogue.

Professor Joyce Nakayenga, Assistant Professor, Collaborative Research Laboratory, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, shared her inspiring journey from Uganda to Japan, highlighting her academic and professional experiences. In her laboratory, Professor Nakayenga further fostered international collaboration by recommending a Ugandan scholar, with whom she worked to integrate sustainable Ugandan construction materials into Japanese research. Their successful partnership led to the publication of several joint articles, reflecting the growing opportunities for collaboration between African and Japanese academic communities.

Professor Losenge Turoop, Acting Director of the Pan African University Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation (PAUSTI), outlined two key expectations for Japan's collaboration with Pan African University. At the macro level, the goal is to share resources in research and academics, promoting mobility between Japan and Africa to boost research, capacity building, and skill development. On a micro level, the collaboration will foster cultural exchange, enhance research capabilities, and create societal impacts for both the Pan African University and the Hiroshima University.

A Path Toward Mutual Growth and Innovation

Dr. Raymond Gilpin welcomed the progress with educational exchange programs at Hiroshima University and noted the obvious mutual benefit for Japan and African countries. He urged stakeholders to view these collaborations as mutual investments rather than one-sided relationships. In addition, Mr. Ueda pointed to initiatives like the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), which facilitates student exchanges between Japan and Africa, as a key to fostering a more balanced and collaborative partnership.

Professor Shimpuku emphasized Hiroshima University’s focus on global peace and sustainability, such as addressing challenges including issues in health, energy, and conservation. She highlighted the potential of joint degree programs and online learning for shared growth. Mr. Gilpin responded by suggesting that universities like Hiroshima University could direct more attention to solving Africa’s persistent medical challenges, such as malaria, which impacts the continent’s economy and workforce. Then, Prof. Shimpuku introduced one of her innovative research projects on the development of a smartphone app aimed at improving maternal and child health in Africa. The app ensures mothers have access to accurate, scientific information despite limited resources.

Deepening Collaborations

As the discussion turned to deepening collaborations, Professor Joyce Nakayenga brought attention to the challenges of funding and the need for long-term plans to support joint research. She proposed that African universities could benefit from policies allowing them to lease or receive donated equipment, particularly from Japanese industries, to enable high-level research at lower costs. 

Dr. Gilpin underscored the value of public-private partnerships in addressing funding challenges. He emphasized that the focus should be on building partnerships with African universities and linking them to the private sector to bring innovative ideas to market. He also highlighted the business potential in Africa's growing middle class, stressing that collaboration is not about philanthropy, but about future investments.

Professor Turoop also shared the success of programs like the Erasmus program, which has fostered research, mobility, and curriculum development between African and European universities. Professor Turoop suggested that Japan could adopt similar programs to strengthen its collaboration with African institutions.

Ms. Manabe, a student representative, emphasized the importance of creating environments that foster exchange, whether through short-term programs or online exchanges. These programs provide students with opportunities to engage with different cultures, fostering new perspectives and emotional connections.

Evidence-Based Research

As the conversation turned to evidence-based research, Dr. Gilpin challenged universities to focus on research that addresses Africa’s specific needs, such as job creation, public health, and sustainable development. He called for more empirical research that directly addresses the pressing issues Africa faces, such as tackling pandemics and promoting sustainable economic growth.

In response, Professor Shimpuku shared an example of her applied research in maternal and child health, where mobile clinics funded by a Japanese government agency have helped reduce prenatal deaths and improve baby health in remote areas of Africa. Professor Shimpuku emphasized that successful projects are those designed in collaboration with African scholars to ensure they meet local needs.

Professor Nakayenga also shared an example of evidence-based research in construction, focusing on termite mounds in Uganda. By studying the strong soil created by termites, her research team developed solutions for enhancing Japanese soils.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Shuhei Ueno, Deputy Director General of JICA's Africa Department, highlighted two key takeaways: “Multiple Benefits of Exchanges” and “Taking the First Step.” He emphasized the long-term value of academic exchanges, which eventually lead to innovation, and public-private partnerships that make such exchanges sustainable. Mr. Ueno encouraged participants to actively engage in Africa-Japan collaborations through avenues such as online and in-person exchanges, or by joining initiatives like the Model African Union, which JICA and UNDP helped launch earlier this month. He urged the youth to seize these opportunities to shape the future of Africa-Japan relations, particularly in anticipation of the upcoming TICAD event in Yokohama.