The University of Mauritius has been admitted as the 21st full member of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), a significant milestone for the island nation as it strengthens its research capacity and expands its continental and global academic presence.

The announcement was made on October 28, 2025, during an ARUA Board meeting hosted by Makerere University, ahead of the Alliance’s 5th Biennial International Conference. The decision follows a thorough evaluation of the University of Mauritius’s progress against ARUA’s institutional benchmarks, which assess research productivity, innovation systems, and governance frameworks across the continent’s leading universities.

Initially joining ARUA in 2021 as the Alliance’s first Associate Member, the University of Mauritius embarked on an ambitious program of institutional reform aimed at boosting its research ecosystem. Over the past three years, it has scaled up postgraduate training, promoted interdisciplinary scholarship, and strengthened collaborations with international partners.

“The university has shown remarkable progress in developing a research culture that aligns with ARUA’s standards of excellence,” said Professor Sizwe Mabizela, Chair of the ARUA Board and Vice-Chancellor of Rhodes University. “We are delighted to welcome the University of Mauritius as a full member of the Alliance.”

Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor (Dr) Mohammad Issack Santally described the elevation to full membership as “a defining moment” for the institution. “Our admission affirms our commitment to research, innovation, and partnerships that contribute to Africa’s development agenda,” he noted.

Established in 2015, ARUA unites Africa’s top research-intensive universities to drive collaborative science and build globally competitive centres of excellence. Its members work together on frontier research in areas such as climate change, public health, governance, and economic transformation.

The inclusion of the University of Mauritius extends ARUA’s footprint to the Indian Ocean region and underscores the Alliance’s dedication to building a diverse, continent-wide research network. Higher education analysts say the move reflects a growing recognition of smaller African universities that are making strategic investments in research capacity and innovation infrastructure.

“This expansion is about inclusion and excellence,” remarked one analyst at the conference. “It demonstrates that leadership in African research is emerging from new and dynamic spaces across the continent.”

With full membership, the University of Mauritius gains expanded opportunities for collaborative projects, faculty exchange, and participation in ARUA’s Centres of Excellence platforms, which connect African researchers with global funding and partnerships.

 

Article by Jed Mwangi

Photo/Google

https://arua.org/university-of-mauritius-admitted-as-21st-full-member-of-arua/