Deligates to the Meeting
SARUA, in partnership with the University of Cape Town (UCT), hosted a meeting of Deputy Vice Chancellors from universities across the SADC region on the 24th March 2011, to plot the course for the establishment of a special working group of senior university leaders on climate change. Climate change vulnerability threatens to reverse the development gains of the region in the last decade. The working group is therefore expected to play a leading role in crafting a regional plan for developing the capacity of the higher education sector to respond to climate change and variability.
The establishment of this working group was first mooted at a SARUA meeting of V
The establishment of this working group was first mooted at a SARUA meeting of Vice Chancellors held in Mauritius in October 2010, to discuss ways in which academic resources can be harnessed to better equip the region for adapting to the consequences of climate variability. This led to the adoption of a Framework for Action on Climate Change and Adaptation in Higher Education in SADC1 . The framework proposes a range of measures required for integrating climate change work into that of universities in the region. The Framework further identifies the establishment of a network of senior university leaders from across SADC as a strategy to lead such a capacity building initiative.
1 http://www.sarua.org/?q=content/volume-2-number-4-2010
This initiative is distinctive in three important respects. Firstly, it is driven by the leadership of Southern African universities through a high level partnership that recognises the cross-disciplinary nature of climate change work. Secondly, it provides an important opportunity for universities to jointly advocate on policy matters emerging from research. Thirdly, it provides a regional mechanism for collaboration and sharing ideas and expertise across Southern African universities.
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