New Centre launched at UWE Bristol to drive social and economic change across Africa through HE partnerships

UWE Bristol has launched the Centre for African Social and Economic Transformation (CASET) — a collaborative platform to support African-led innovation, research and higher education initiatives that respond to some of the continent’s key social and economic priorities.

The Centre was formally launched at UWE Bristol’s Frenchay campus on 22 May, during an event attended by international representatives from academia, government, NGOs, and the private sector.

The launch included keynote addresses from three distinguished African leaders: His Excellency Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Executive Governor of Lagos State and Patron of CASET; Her Excellency Professor Sarah Anyang Agbor, former African Union Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI) and Board Chair, Forum for Innovation in African Universities (FIAU); and Professor Abdullahi Ribadu, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Nigeria.

CASET’s mission is to co-develop sustainable partnerships between UWE Bristol and African higher education institutions through capacity exchange, interdisciplinary research, and knowledge co-creation. It aims to support equitable access to education by facilitating transnational education (TNE) partnerships, giving African students greater access to high-quality, globally recognised learning, with a particular emphasis on entrepreneurship and digital capabilities.

Among CASET’s flagship initiatives is the British Council-funded Bridging Borders Project (BBP), which is strengthening entrepreneurship ecosystems in collaboration with three leading Nigerian institutions: the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, and Covenant University.

Paschal Anosike, CASET Director and Project Lead, said: “Through BBP, over 130 higher education practitioners are building capacity to embed entrepreneurship into teaching, enhancing collaboration between universities and industries, and equipping more than 120,000 students with startup skills. This is about enabling Nigerian institutions to deliver transformative education shaped by local expertise and global connections.”

With the youngest population of any continent, Africa presents significant opportunities for educational innovation. Through UWE Africa — led by Jimi Ogunnusi, UWE Bristol Africa Strategy Lead — CASET is working to expand inclusive access to higher education for young people, aligned with national development priorities and local leadership.

CASET also builds on UWE Bristol’s long-standing commitment to socially engaged partnerships across Africa. Led by Mian Ng, UWE Bristol lead for Global Partnerships in Social and Cultural Engagement, this includes initiatives like The Daigo Project — a community-driven programme co-created with partners in The Gambia to support youth development and sustainable livelihoods.

Working with the Daughters of Africa Foundation, young Gambians and UWE Bristol students have co-designed and delivered community-led projects ranging from health education and sustainable construction to sports rehabilitation, reaching over 6,000 people since its launch.

In his keynote address, Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted the Centre’s potential to empower Africa’s young population through education and innovative research, saying “young people in Africa are ready to lead the change in global issues”.

Jo Midgley, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Registrar at UWE Bristol, added: “CASET reflects our commitment to mutual learning and global cooperation. By working alongside African institutions to understand and respond to the needs of young people, we aim to contribute meaningfully to shared goals of inclusion, innovation and opportunity.”

The event also featured a performance by the Project Zulu Choir — part of a cultural exchange initiative co-developed with township schools in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Project Zulu enables young learners to participate in a biennial UK tour that raises funds for locally-driven educational and community initiatives in their home communities.

For more information, visit uwe.ac.uk/caset