The University of Leeds partnership with the University of Pretoria is focused around and supported by high value external awards, in food security and agriculture research. Our shared research strengths in food security and food systems grew into major programmes within large research centres: the Global Food and Environment Institute, the National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence for Food Security, and the African Research University Alliance (ARUA) Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Food Systems.
One of these programmes, the Food Systems Research Network for Africa (FSNet-Africa) project, has enhanced the research capacities of 20 early-career researchers from 10 institutions across six African countries: Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, South Africa, and Zambia. This initiative is a key driver of our partnership's success and has led to significant institutional changes, curriculum integration, and professional recognition for the fellows involved. An important early success has been the capacity building of more than 60 African researchers and expanding the networks of over 20 UK researchers, enabling them to influence policy, improve weather forecasting, and develop climate-informed agricultural practices.
The collaborative approach of these programmes within research centres led to two significant joint awards. The FSNet-Africa project was awarded £2 million funding by a partnership between ARUA and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Another programme, the Food Systems Transformation in Southern Africa for One Health (FoSTA Health) project, which evaluates the health outcomes associated with changes in food systems across southern Africa, received funding from the EU's Horizon Europe programme (HEu), with a funding amount of €6.5 million.
The Leeds-Pretoria partnership, strengthened by a strategic partnership agreement signed in May 2023, has expanded to include multiple strands of activity such as research, staff training, student exchange, and digital education. This agreement enhances existing collaborations and reinforces the commitment of both institutions to pursue global educational excellence and tackle global challenges together. There is significant investment from the University of Leeds’ International Strategy Fund to further broaden collaboration in more areas.
The newly signed strategic partnership agreement between University of Pretoria and University of Leeds will transform research collaboration through the creation of transdisciplinary partnerships that harmonise research and student education to deliver novel, innovative partnerships for thought leadership and to demonstrate how co-created, equitable partnerships might be realised.
One initiative demonstrating the partnership's commitment to tackling global challenges is the Knowledge Equity Network, co-founded by both universities. This network aims to transform academic culture by creating equitable partnerships, enhancing access to research, and offering a global platform for collaboration and expertise sharing.
In a significant recognition of global academic excellence, the University of Pretoria and the University of Leeds were shortlisted for the 2024 Times Higher Education Award for International Collaboration of the Year.