A new position paper, co-signed by AASU, outlines a visionary path for Africa and Europe to jointly invest in knowledge, innovation, and opportunity for youth.
The All Africa Students Union (AASU) has joined forces with leading African and European higher education and development organizations to issue a powerful call to action ahead of the upcoming African Union-European Union Summit in Luanda this November. The collective position paper, titled “A Partnership for Knowledge, Innovation and Opportunity,” urges leaders from both continents to recognize tertiary education and research as the bedrock of shared social and economic progress.
The paper argues that while technical and vocational training (TVET) and innovation are rightly emphasized in development agendas, higher education must not be lost in the middle. Instead, it should be seen as the critical link that connects skills training with advanced research, fostering employability, social mobility, and the ability to solve complex local and global challenges.
“For Africa’s students, this is more than a policy document; it is a blueprint for our future,” said a representative from AASU. “It champions the idea that our universities are not just institutions of learning, but powerful engines for local development, innovation, and social equity. This partnership must be built on genuine co-creation, ensuring African students and institutions are equal architects in this shared journey.”
The paper lays out several key recommendations for the AU and EU, including:
- Framing education and science as strategic investments for shared growth, not just development aid.
- Setting an ambitious goal to double intra-Africa and Africa-EU academic exchanges to foster integration and talent circulation.
- Establishing long-term, co-financed instruments and encouraging the AU to create a dedicated continental fund to mirror EU initiatives.
- Ensuring sustainability by empowering African institutions to lead and coordinate cooperation projects, building local capacity and ownership.
- Guaranteeing that Least Developed Countries and fragile states are not left behind, and that education is integrated as a core component of economic investments.
By placing these principles at the core of the AU-EU partnership, the signatories believe both continents can build a more equitable, resilient, and knowledge-driven future. This collaboration is essential for tackling global issues like climate change and public health, while directly addressing the aspirations of Africa’s youth for quality education and meaningful opportunities.
AASU’s endorsement of this paper underscores its commitment to advocating for policies that empower African students and strengthen the continent’s educational systems from within.
Download the full document here:
A-Partnership-for-Knowledge-Innovation-and-Opportunity-V2