UQ and Sub-Saharan Africa

Global connections for healthy communities

At a time when Australia is developing strong economic partnerships with African states, UQ is working hand-in-hand with the region's leading institutions and organisations to find answers to some of the biggest challenges of our time – such as security, conservation, and developing youth capacity.

Fast facts



219

Sub-Saharan African students enrolled at UQ


543

UQ co-publications


72

academic staff born in Sub-Saharan Africa


3

research project collaborations


912

alumni in sub-Saharan Africa
 


3

agreements with 2 official partners

Fast facts show full year 2023 data. 

Collaboration in action

  • Female genital cutting (FGC) is the practice of cutting or removing part of the female genitalia for non-medical reasons. In many countries of the developing world, a girl’s transition to womanhood can be marked by some form of this tradition. UQ School of Economics researcher Dr David Smerdon has been working with local NGOs in Somalia to find policy solutions to eradicate FGC.
  • Madagascar is one of the world’s largest producers of fine sapphires and other gems, but it is also one of the world’s poorest countries. Sapphire miners and traders are largely women, and their early position in the supply chain means they receive few of the profits to be garnered from the gemstone industry. Lynda Lawson’s doctoral research with the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) aims to change that by providing training and equipment to women sapphire workers to increase their power within the industry.
  • A quick, cost-effective, cloud-based platform, which could solve one of fish farming’s biggest challenges, has received a US$100,000 grant for concept development and testing.
  • Darker male giraffes have been found to be more solitary and less social than their lighter-coloured counterparts, according to new research from The University of Queensland.
  • Participants in the Australia Awards Short Course in Agribusiness, implemented by The University of Queensland’s International Development unit, will head to the regional city of Toowoomba as part of their intensive six-week course.
  • The University of Queensland’s (UQ) International Development unit hosted an opening ceremony in August 2019, for 46 participants undertaking Australia Awards Short Courses in Agribusiness (Africa) and Inclusive Governance for Effective Disaster Risk Reduction (Nepal).

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Alumni

UQ has 1075 alumni living in Sub-Saharan Africa. Alumni from or living in the region include:

Mozambique

Health Program Manager at TotalEnergies: broad energy company; Alumni Ambassador for the Australia Awards program; UQ International Alumnus of the Year 2013 (Master of Public Health 2005)
Nigeria

Scientist, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) & Lynsey Welsh Award winner for innovation in near infrared science (Doctor of Philosophy 2017)
South Africa

Singer / songwriter, Anthropologist & Consultant GOPA AFC; former lead author UN Environment Programme UN GEO for Youth, Africa (PhD 2024)