The All-Africa Students Union (AASU) participated in the Groningen Declaration Network (GDN) Annual Conference, held in Oslo, Norway, from October 29th to 31st, 2025.
Under the conference theme, “DUGNAD: Working Together for a Better Tomorrow,” AASU contributed to critical discussions on building collaborative digital ecosystems for academics and labour mobility. The Union was represented by a delegation led by Mr. Peter Kwasi Kodjie, Secretary-General, and included Mr. Samuel Sasu Adonteng, Chief Technical Officer, and Ms. Ivo Zalissa, Outreach and Engagement Officer.
Spotlight on Student Mobility and African Perspectives
AASU’s engagement was highlighted during a pivotal panel on Student Mobility and Recognition Systems. During this session, the delegation shared crucial insights on advancing fair and equitable student mobility, the importance of robust recognition frameworks, and the need to dismantle barriers to cross-border education for African students. The discussion emphasized that true mobility must be accessible and reciprocal, ensuring that qualifications are recognized fairly on a global scale.
Presenting Groundbreaking Research on Quality Assurance
A significant moment at the conference was the presentation of preliminary findings from AASU’s study on Student Engagement in Higher Education Quality Assurance in Africa. This important work, conducted as a pre-dissemination project under the HAQAA3 Initiative, outlines the critical role students play in upholding and enhancing educational standards across the continent. The presentation was strengthened by collaborative contributions from global student leaders, including Mr. Oscar dos Santos Hellberg-Kvalsvik, International Officer for the Norwegian National Students Union, and Mr. Jacob Blasius, Executive Director of the Global Student Forum (GSF). This joint effort underscored a unified, global student vision for inclusive, transparent, and high-quality higher education systems.
“The GDN Conference provided an invaluable platform to align African student perspectives with global best practices,” stated Secretary-General Peter Kwasi Kodjie. “Our participation was not just about sharing our findings on quality assurance, but also about learning and integrating new ideas to further our advocacy. The ‘DUGNAD’ spirit of collective action is perfectly aligned with our mission to foster partnerships that break down barriers for students.”
Beyond the formal sessions, the AASU delegation engaged in strategic meetings with key partners and stakeholders. These interactions were focused on deepening existing collaborations and forging new alliances to strengthen the role of students in shaping policies that affect the future of global education.
AASU’s presence at the GDN Conference marks a continued commitment to ensuring that African students are not merely subjects of global education discourse, but active architects of a more equitable and mobile global academic landscape.
