UNICA conference in Stockholm

For three days, Stockholm University has had the pleasure of hosting UNICA, the network of universities from the capitals of Europe, which held its 34th General Assembly at Stockholm University, followed by a rector’s seminar on the theme “Strengthening the Africa-Europe Cooperation: The Role of University Networking”. Both the meeting and the seminar were well attended, with both physical participation in our premises in Albano and the opportunity to participate online. The rector’ seminar on Africa and Europe was highly relevant for us at Stockholm University, which has a partnership through CIVIS with six African universities, in Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and Uganda – and in addition through the “Polycivis” project with another four universities – and also participates in the Swedish-African SASUF collaboration, which brings together no less than 40 universities in South Africa and Sweden.

Photo: Private.

Many participants shared their long experience, with deep insights into African-European collaborations, and the seminar offered high-flying discussions of ideas as well as highly concrete examples, suggestions and advice regarding future collaborations. If I were to mention something as particularly rewarding, it must be student participation; both Alice Kollmitz, SU’s student representative in the SASUF network, and Peter Kwasi Kodjie, General Secretary of the All-Africa Students’ Union (AASU) participated actively and very constructively in various panels during the seminar. I know Peter from four years of regular digital meetings – we are both members of the Magna Charta Observatory General Council–- but this was the first time we met IRL! Digital meetings in all their glory, but face-to face meetings are something else entirely.

But now it is time for a break even from rewarding meetings. Next week I’ll be travelling abroad for a conference, but then it’s time for vacation for me. I wish all employees and students a really nice and relaxing summer vacation!

Astrid Söderbergh Widding
President

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