I take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude to Prof Siphamandla Zondi, the Director of the Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation (IPATC) at the University of Johannesburg, for inviting me, as a research fellow, to join the institute’s delegation that met with the delegation from the Russian-African Network University (RAFU). The Russian delegation presented an academic proposal to the IPATC delegation to establish a partnership and possible affiliation with RAFU.
RAFU was formed in 2021 as a consortium of African and Russian universities and serves as a unified platform that fosters academic cooperation and development through joint research projects and educational programmes. Currently, more than 40 African Universities from eleven (11) African countries are affiliated with RAFU, and more than 35,000 African students are studying at various universities in Russia.
In his opening remarks, Director Prof Zondi clearly indicated that “IPATC is a Pan African organ of the University of Johannesburg and was established in 2016 as one of the University’s flagship centres of research excellence, and it provides a forum for scholars, practitioners, and activists across Africa and its diaspora (Global Africa) to cultivate Pan-African knowledge. It facilitates classroom learning and conducts public dialogue, and contributes to community development”.
The IPATC and RAFU delegations, among others, havediscussed the potential academic project on Russia in Africa. It includes three-day short courses and seminars; it was proposed as the ‘Africa-Russia Winter Institute’(June-July 2026). African and Russian experts would deliver both short courses and seminars on the history of Russia and Africa, post-Cold War and colonial wars, Africa-Russia diplomatic engagements, Russia’s role in Africa, and economic and technological cooperation. The project would be targeting students and emerging African scholars.
The engagement was quite refreshing and educational, and I remain grateful for the opportunity to share my views on the prospects of a possible partnership between the two institutions. I am confident that further engagement between the decision-makers of both organisations will lead to an agreement that could culminate in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU).
I was impressed by the Director of IPATC’s succinct articulation of what constitutes a strategic partnership within the institute. He argues that a strategic partnership is defined by equality, a common goal and mutual benefit among partners. And that partnership should have a long-term impact on the university, the people of the continent, and the broader global African community. Prof Zondi further posits that universities are the microcosm of society; therefore, in every project and programme they pursue, they must ensure that it involves the people, with among other objectives, building people-to-people relationships in constructing a renewed and united Africa and that engage with other global actors as equal partners within the global geopolitical tensions that have defined the contemporary international relations.
Orapeleng Matshediso is a Masters graduate of Pan African Development Studies and Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg (Institute for Pan African Thought and Conversation). The author is also an alumnus of the then Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute (TMALI).
