AAUN is delighted to announce that Western Sydney University has joined the Australia Africa Universities Network.

We welcome Professor Deborah Sweeney, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) and Associate Professor Linda Taylor, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) and their colleagues to the AAUN Steering Group, Research teams and programs. We look forward to a valuable and productive partnership.

Please view Prof Sweeney’s Western Sydney University Introduction presentation that was held at the AAUN Forum and AGM 2016 in Perth.

WSU Champion Research Areas

“Like AAUN, Western Sydney University is committed to high-impact, strategic educational and research partnerships which develop sustainable solutions,” says Professor Sweeney.

“Western Sydney University translates rigorous research into meaningful outcomes for industry, business, government, community and education partners within four interdisciplinary research themes: Urban Living and Society, Health and Wellbeing, Environmental Sustainability and Education.

“These themes are highly relevant to the focus areas of AAUN in health, environment, education and culture.”

Collaboration opportunities

Up to 15 current and proposed research projects have been flagged as potential areas for collaboration between the University and AAUN, including PhD projects which will look at malnutrition in Nigerian children, and breastfeeding practices in West African countries.

The announcement is the latest development in an already productive partnership between the University and AAUN. A Memorandum of Academic Cooperation was signed in 2015 between Western Sydney University and the University of Makerere, with the view to establish PhD scholarships for suitable Makerere graduates, as well as opportunities for academic staff to upgrade their qualifications.

Western Sydney University and University of Cape Town have also recently signed an agreement to explore opportunities for dual award and joint degree arrangements.

Contact details 

We encourage AAUN members to explore future collaborative opportunities directly with Western Sydney University, including the inclusion of WSU in the coming round of the Research Development Fund. Professor Deborah Sweeney and Associate Professor Linda Taylor will be the key contacts for progressing WSU’s membership of AAUN.

We look forward to Western Sydney University joining the AAUN Network and making a significant contribution to scaling up Africa-Australia research collaborations.

For contact details of Western Sydney University AAUN representatives, please email AAUN Program Manager Marije Nieuwenhuis via aaun.events@sydney.edu.au