ACU Congress day three

Time	Session	Topic, speakers, further information
9:00 - 9:30	Networking	Venue opens for the day with exhibition stands and networking.
9:30 - 9:40	Brief welcome and introduction of the day	Speaker: Professor Colin Riordan CBE, Secretary General and Chief Executive, Association of Commonwealth Universities
9:40 - 10:50	Plenary panel session	'Innovation, research and development: driving university impact in a changing world' Innovation is at the heart of how universities shape the future — whether through cutting-edge research, technology transfer, or partnerships that transform knowledge into impact. This session brings together global leaders to explore how higher education can build thriving innovation ecosystems, balance commercialisation with social good, and respond to pressing global challenges. The panel will include leading voices offering alternative perspectives, including from Africa and the global innovation start-up scene, to challenge assumptions and spark debate on how universities across the Commonwealth can future-proof their research and development strategies. Participants will leave with fresh ideas, comparative insights, and practical lessons to apply within their own institutions. Session chair: Professor Benedict M Mutua, Vice-Chancellor, Technical University of Kenya, Kenya Speakers: Professor Nicholas Ozor, Executive Director, African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS), Kenya Ethel Cofie, Founder of EDEL Technology Consulting; Founding Member, Women in Tech Africa, Ghana
10:50 - 11:20	Morning networking break	Refreshments available
11:20 - 12:45 (Parallel session)	Moderated closed door roundtable discussion	'Indigenising research: shared lessons from Canada, New Zealand and the Caribbean' This plenary brings together leading voices from across the Commonwealth to explore how indigenous knowledge systems are reshaping research and teaching in universities. Speakers will share lessons from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and India on approaches to embedding indigenous perspectives, advancing equity, and strengthening institutional accountability to local communities. The session will ask what universities across the Commonwealth can learn from these examples, and how leaders can champion more inclusive research practices that bridge traditional knowledge and contemporary scholarship. The panel will offer practical insights and strategic provocations for vice-chancellors and senior leaders seeking to advance decolonisation and indigenous engagement within their institutions. Chair: Professor Sonjah Stanley Niaah, Professor of Cultural Studies, University of the West Indies (UWI), Jamaica Speakers: Dr John R Sylliboy, Vice-Provost, Indigenous Relations, Dalhousie University, Canada Professor Cheryl de la Rey, Vice-Chancellor, University of Canterbury, New Zealand; Chair, Association of Commonwealth Universities
11:20 - 12:45 (Parallel session)	Moderated closed door roundtable discussion	'Fostering sustainable and inclusive research ecosystems' This session will explore how Commonwealth universities can build and sustain inclusive, interdisciplinary research ecosystems that contribute to global health, security, and wellbeing. In the face of intersecting challenges such as pandemics, climate change, food and water insecurity, and economic instability, how can universities strengthen their research capacity, funding frameworks, and collaborative networks? The session will consider how diverse institutions can play a leading role in shaping resilient, locally grounded yet globally connected research agendas - supporting both policy and practice. Framed within a broader discussion on ecosystem development, the session will also draw on thematic expertise in areas such as disease resilience, water security, and sustainable food systems. Chair: Dr Fiona Wanjiku Moejes, CEO and Co-Founder, Mawazo Institute, Mawimbi Ocean Innovations, Kenya Speakers: Professor Baljit Singh, Vice-President Research, University of Saskatchewan, Canada Professor John Strachan, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise), Bath Spa University, UK; Co-Chair, South West and Wales Africa Research Network (SWWARN) Dr Amiya Bhaumik, Founder and President of Lincoln University, Malaysia
12:45 - 13:30	Lunch and networking
13:30 - 14:30	Keynote speaker	'Powering the future: universities, skills, and the new social contract' Keynote speaker: Professor Barney Glover AO, Commissioner, Jobs and Skills Australia: 'Tertiary education reform in Australia and the role of Jobs and Skills Australia' Speakers: Ms Hemani Naran, Director - International Development (MEA), Future Learn Njeri Mburu, Deputy Governor - Faculty of Built Environment, University of Nairobi, Kenya
14:30 - 15:00	Refreshments and networking
15:00 - 16:30	Final key plenary session	'Focus on Africa and what’s next for Africa?' As Africa stands at the intersection of demographic transformation, digital innovation, and global realignment, this closing plenary will explore the role of universities in shaping the continent’s future. The discussion will focus on how higher education can drive sustainable growth, equip young people for emerging labour markets, and strengthen governance and resilience across the continent. Bringing together leading voices from academia, policy, and international development, the session will consider how to build an African higher education ecosystem that is innovative, inclusive, and globally connected, while firmly rooted in local priorities and knowledge systems. Keynote speaker: Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, Senior economic advisor at the Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative (AEDPI); Founder/President, Human Capital Africa (HCA); Founder and Chair, School of Politics Policy and Governance (SPPG) Chair: Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ghana, Ghana Panel speakers: Professor Margaret Hutchinson, Vice-Chancellor, University of Nairobi, Kenya Ms Louise Haxthausen, Director, UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya
16:30	Closing remarks	Professor Colin Riordan CBE, Secretary General and Chief Executive, Association of Commonwealth Universities
17:00	Congress closes

9:00 - 9:30

Networking

Venue opens for the day with exhibition stands and networking.

9:30 - 9:40

Brief welcome and introduction of the day

Speaker: Professor Colin Riordan CBE, Secretary General and Chief Executive, Association of Commonwealth Universities

9:40 - 10:50

Plenary panel session

'Innovation, research and development: driving university impact in a changing world'

Innovation is at the heart of how universities shape the future — whether through cutting-edge research, technology transfer, or partnerships that transform knowledge into impact. This session brings together global leaders to explore how higher education can build thriving innovation ecosystems, balance commercialisation with social good, and respond to pressing global challenges.

The panel will include leading voices offering alternative perspectives, including from Africa and the global innovation start-up scene, to challenge assumptions and spark debate on how universities across the Commonwealth can future-proof their research and development strategies. Participants will leave with fresh ideas, comparative insights, and practical lessons to apply within their own institutions.

Session chair: Professor Benedict M Mutua, Vice-Chancellor, Technical University of Kenya, Kenya

Speakers:

Professor Nicholas Ozor, Executive Director, African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS), Kenya

Ethel Cofie, Founder of EDEL Technology Consulting; Founding Member, Women in Tech Africa, Ghana

10:50 - 11:20

Morning networking break

Refreshments available

11:20 - 12:45

(Parallel session)

Moderated closed door roundtable discussion

'Indigenising research: shared lessons from Canada, New Zealand and the Caribbean'

This plenary brings together leading voices from across the Commonwealth to explore how indigenous knowledge systems are reshaping research and teaching in universities. Speakers will share lessons from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and India on approaches to embedding indigenous perspectives, advancing equity, and strengthening institutional accountability to local communities. The session will ask what universities across the Commonwealth can learn from these examples, and how leaders can champion more inclusive research practices that bridge traditional knowledge and contemporary scholarship.

The panel will offer practical insights and strategic provocations for vice-chancellors and senior leaders seeking to advance decolonisation and indigenous engagement within their institutions.

Chair: Professor Sonjah Stanley Niaah, Professor of Cultural Studies, University of the West Indies (UWI), Jamaica

Speakers: Dr John R Sylliboy, Vice-Provost, Indigenous Relations, Dalhousie University, Canada

Professor Cheryl de la Rey, Vice-Chancellor, University of Canterbury, New Zealand; Chair, Association of Commonwealth Universities

11:20 - 12:45

(Parallel session)

Moderated closed door roundtable discussion

'Fostering sustainable and inclusive research ecosystems'

This session will explore how Commonwealth universities can build and sustain inclusive, interdisciplinary research ecosystems that contribute to global health, security, and wellbeing. In the face of intersecting challenges such as pandemics, climate change, food and water insecurity, and economic instability, how can universities strengthen their research capacity, funding frameworks, and collaborative networks?

The session will consider how diverse institutions can play a leading role in shaping resilient, locally grounded yet globally connected research agendas - supporting both policy and practice. Framed within a broader discussion on ecosystem development, the session will also draw on thematic expertise in areas such as disease resilience, water security, and sustainable food systems.

Chair: Dr Fiona Wanjiku Moejes, CEO and Co-Founder, Mawazo Institute, Mawimbi Ocean Innovations, Kenya

Speakers:

Professor Baljit Singh, Vice-President Research, University of Saskatchewan, Canada

Professor John Strachan, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise), Bath Spa University, UK; Co-Chair, South West and Wales Africa Research Network (SWWARN)

Dr Amiya Bhaumik, Founder and President of Lincoln University, Malaysia

12:45 - 13:30

Lunch and networking

13:30 - 14:30

Keynote speaker

'Powering the future: universities, skills, and the new social contract'

Keynote speaker: Professor Barney Glover AO, Commissioner, Jobs and Skills Australia: 'Tertiary education reform in Australia and the role of Jobs and Skills Australia'

Speakers: Ms Hemani Naran, Director - International Development (MEA), Future Learn

Njeri Mburu, Deputy Governor - Faculty of Built Environment, University of Nairobi, Kenya

14:30 - 15:00

Refreshments and networking

15:00 - 16:30

Final key plenary session

'Focus on Africa and what’s next for Africa?'

As Africa stands at the intersection of demographic transformation, digital innovation, and global realignment, this closing plenary will explore the role of universities in shaping the continent’s future. The discussion will focus on how higher education can drive sustainable growth, equip young people for emerging labour markets, and strengthen governance and resilience across the continent.

Bringing together leading voices from academia, policy, and international development, the session will consider how to build an African higher education ecosystem that is innovative, inclusive, and globally connected, while firmly rooted in local priorities and knowledge systems.

Keynote speaker:

Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, Senior economic advisor at the Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative (AEDPI); Founder/President, Human Capital Africa (HCA); Founder and Chair, School of Politics Policy and Governance (SPPG)

Chair:

Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ghana, Ghana

Panel speakers:

Professor Margaret Hutchinson, Vice-Chancellor, University of Nairobi, Kenya

Ms Louise Haxthausen, Director, UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya

16:30

Closing remarks

Professor Colin Riordan CBE, Secretary General and Chief Executive, Association of Commonwealth Universities

17:00

Congress closes

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Programme: day three