Art Dunning, Vice President for Public Service and Outreach, and Lioba Moshi, Director of the African Studies Institute, opening the Africa Initiative Roundtable.

April 27-May 4, 2002
Athens, Georgia

Six vice chancellors from East African universities and the executive secretary of the Inter-University Council of East Africa (IUCEA) visited UGA to participate in a roundtable from April 27 to May 4, 2002. This event was the newest phase of the university-wide Africa Initiative, which was established in July 2001 to stimulate public service and outreach-oriented projects with colleges and universities throughout Africa.

Sponsored by the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach, the African Studies Institute, and the Office of International Public Service and Outreach, the Roundtable included representatives from:

Egerton University, Kenya
United States International University, Kenya
University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
St. Augustine University of Tanzania
Makerere University, Uganda
Uganda Martyrs University
Inter-University Council for East Africa
University of Georgia

SEE ALSO
	• Africa Initiative Roundtable Agenda • Collaboration with the IUCEA • "African University Leaders Pay a Visit," Red and Black, April 29, 2002 • "Visitors from African Colleges Help Students Appreciate the University," Red and Black, April 29, 2002

Top: Roundtable participants with Clifton Pannell, Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences, and Dan Dervartanian, Department of Biochemistry. Bottom: Roundtable participants with William Harvey, Vice President and Director of the Office of Minorities in Higher Education, American Council on Education

The selection of the IUCEA to participate in the roundtable was based on several factors. IUCEA is a consortium of over 34 institutions with functions similar to the University system. Collaboration with IUCEA will allow the Africa Initiative to assist and collaborate with member institutions through representative participation without having to sign 34 individual agreements. IUCEA is also well-positioned and networked with donor agencies that will serve to enhance development and implementation of projects in Africa. "This Africa Initiative roundtable is a crucial first step in our efforts to build strong partnerships with African institutions of higher education," said Lioba Moshi, director of the African Studies Institute. "We hope to hold subsequent roundtables, one for West African institutions and another for South African institutions in the near future."

The objectives of the roundtable were to strengthen established relationships and develop new opportunities for collaboration with African institutions. Participants visited academic and public service units across campus throughout the week. Each participant conducted seminars on their institutional strengths, needs and priorities with selected colleges and public service units on campus. They also worked with UGA faculty to formulate a plan for further collaboration and specific action.

"I hope that the roundtable will lead to the development of sustainable, capacity building projects between East African Institutions of higher education and UGA," said Glenn Ames, director of International Public Service and Outreach. "Promoting a dialogue between our colleagues in East Africa and faculty, staff and students with an interest in expanding Georgia's international portfolio will strengthen our teaching, research and public service programs in non-traditional areas and creates an exciting and dynamic learning environment benefiting everyone."