The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) has announced an ambitious initiative to enhance research capacity in Africa with the launch of sixteen Collaborative PhD programmes set to begin in January 2026. This groundbreaking project, supported by the Mastercard Foundation, aims to tackle the region's shortage of skilled researchers by training a new generation of competent academics.

Each programme, designed as a four-year commitment, includes a comprehensive 12-month coursework phase at all participating universities. Students will then spend 18 months engaged in a research project or 'research apprenticeship' at a different institution. The final 18 months will be dedicated to independent research, culminating in a thesis supervised by a team of local and international experts.

ARUA’s collaboration with the Guild of European Research-intensive Universities (The Guild) has been pivotal in developing Clusters of Research Excellence, which form the foundation of several new programmes. This partnership brings together accomplished senior researchers from Africa and the global north, creating a robust academic network to support the new PhD candidates.

A key focus of the initiative is to promote diversity within the research community. The programmes aim for a 70% female enrollment rate and specifically target youthful graduates, ensuring that all participants will be under 35 years of age by the completion of their studies. This strategy aligns with ARUA's broader goal of nurturing young, dynamic researchers who can contribute to the continent's academic and developmental needs.

ARUA's initiative is not limited to its member universities. The organisation is open to involving additional institutions from outside ARUA and The Guild, thereby broadening the scope and impact of the programmes. Each PhD programme is accessible to students from all ARUA universities who meet the eligibility criteria, as well as to other African students.

Over the next ten years, ARUA anticipates that these programmes will produce approximately 1,000 PhD holders annually across seven cohorts. This large-scale effort is expected to significantly enhance the research landscape in Africa, equipping the continent with a wealth of highly trained professionals capable of addressing complex challenges and driving innovation.

Here is a list of the approved Collaborative PhD programmes, the lead institutions, partner institutions, as well as planned student numbers for each of the 16 programmes.

 

Article by Jed Mwangi

Photo/ARUA

https://arua.org.za/arua-ushers-in-new-collaborative-phd-programmes/