Inter-University Council for East Africa

𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 𝟭𝟳𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗨𝗖𝗘𝗔 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) is pleased to announce the 17th IUCEA Annual Meeting and Conference, scheduled for 29th–31st July 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya.

This high-level forum will bring together key stakeholders in higher education, including university leaders, policymakers, researchers, development partners, students, private sector representatives, and the media, to engage in forward-looking discussions on the future of higher education in East Africa.

Centred on partnerships and collaboration, the conference will provide a platform for exchanging ideas, showcasing innovations, and strengthening regional integration.

Save the date and be part of this impactful gathering. Further details on registration and the programme will be shared soon.

𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 𝟭𝟳𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗨𝗖𝗘𝗔 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) is delighted to announce the 17th IUCEA Annual Meeting and Conference, set to take place from 29th to 31st July 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The 17th Annual Meeting and Conference shall bring together Vice Chancellors, Policymakers, Development partners, students and other stakeholders for forward-thinking dialogue on the future of higher education in East Africa.

Centred on partnerships and collaboration, the forum will serve as platform for exchanging ideas, showcasing innovations in Higher Education, and networking to advance regional integration.

Save the Date and prepare to be part of an impactful gathering promises to shape the future of higher education in East Africa.

Further details on registration and the conference programme will be shared soon.

A courtesy visit by Professor Idris A Rai, Acting Executive Secretary of the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), to Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, reaffirmed a shared commitment to advancing higher education in the region.

Given Makerere University’s founding role in IUCEA, the discussion highlighted its ongoing influence in shaping regional and global collaborations, especially through active engagement with universities across the region via IUCEA platforms and initiatives.

The meeting emphasised revitalising Makerere’s engagement in regional partnerships and fostering deeper collaboration in teaching, research, and innovation.

Prof. Rai also underscored the importance of leveraging Makerere’s leadership and legacy to strengthen linkages among IUCEA Member Universities and promote a more integrated higher education ecosystem in East Africa.

An alumnus of Makerere University, Prof. Rai previously served as Deputy Dean at the School of Computing and IT, reflecting his longstanding connection to the institution.

The African Agribusiness Incubators Network (AAIN) held a strategic engagement with Professor Idris A Rai, Acting Executive Secretary of the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), at the IUCEA Headquarters to advance the operationalisation of partnership and deepen regional impact.

The meeting builds on the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions, which provides a framework for collaboration in promoting agribusiness innovation, entrepreneurship, and capacity building within higher education across East Africa.

Prof. Rai emphasised the need for universities to serve as engines of innovation and enterprise, noting that the partnership will help translate research and skills into practical opportunities for youth.

Richard Ekodeu, Deputy CEO of AAIN, underscored AAIN’s role in transforming ideas into viable enterprises, highlighting the partnership as a pathway to strengthening university-led innovation and driving job creation.

On 24 April 2026, at the East African Community Secretariat, Professor Idris A Rai, Acting Executive Secretary of the Inter-University Council for East Africa, presented commemorative gifts to Hon. Veronica Nduva in recognition of her outstanding leadership and contribution to regional integration, as well as her valued service as a member of the IUCEA Executive Committee.

IUCEA also congratulates Amb. Patrick Mbundi, on assuming office, reaffirmed the continued joint efforts with the EAC in advancing higher education, research, and innovation across the region.

Hon. Veronica M. Nduva has formally handed over the leadership of the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat to Ambassador Stephen Patrick Mbundi on 24th April 2026 at EAC Headquarters in Arusha, marking a significant new chapter for the region.

Appointed by the 25th Ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State, Ambassador Mbundi will serve as the 8th Secretary-General for a five-year term. His appointment reflects the collective confidence of the Partner States in his leadership, vision, and commitment to advancing regional integration.

The Community expresses its profound appreciation to Hon. Nduva for her exemplary service, steadfast dedication, and invaluable contributions to strengthening the EAC’s mission and impact.

As Ambassador Mbundi takes on this role, he will carry forward a legacy of progress and a shared aspiration for a more integrated, prosperous, and resilient East Africa. The EAC warmly welcomes him and looks ahead with optimism to this new era of leadership.

The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) is pleased to present its quarterly newsletter covering the period from January to March 2026. This edition showcases the Council’s continued commitment to advancing regional integration, academic excellence, and innovation across the East African Community (EAC) higher education landscape.

A major highlight of this quarter is the successful convening of the 4th Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Conference, which brought together policymakers, researchers, innovators, industry leaders, and development partners from across the region and beyond. The conference served as a strategic platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaboration on emerging trends in science, technology, and innovation.

In addition to the STI Conference, the newsletter captures a range of IUCEA activities undertaken during the quarter. These include capacity-building initiatives, regional policy dialogues, ongoing projects aimed at enhancing quality assurance in higher education, and partnerships that strengthen academic mobility and research collaboration within the EAC.

The January–March 2026 newsletter reflects IUCEA’s unwavering dedication to promoting a harmonised, competitive, and globally relevant higher education system in East Africa. Through its programmes and strategic engagements, IUCEA continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of higher education and innovation in the region.

Get more details:https://iucea.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/THE-IUCEA-NEWSLETTER-JAN-MARCH.pdf

Call for Application for KDU Global Partial Graduate Scholarship for Self-Sponsored East Africans at Kyungdong University Global, South Korea, Fall 2026 (Second Cohort).

Call for Application for KDU Global Partial Graduate Scholarship for Self-Sponsored East Africans at Kyungdong University Global, South Korea Fall 2026 (Second Cohort) | Inter-University Council for East Africa KDU Global Scholarship I. Introduction The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) is an institution of the East African Community (EAC) responsible for the coordination of higher educational development and research in the EAC region. The mission of IUCEA is to encourage and develop mutual...

14 Days Left to Apply for KDU Global – IUCEA Scholarships 2026 (7th Cohort). This is a reminder that only 14 days remain to apply for the KDU Global – IUCEA Undergraduate Full and Partial Scholarships 2026 (7th Cohort).

Eligible students from the East African Community (EAC) member countries are encouraged to submit their applications for undergraduate degree programs (English Track) in the following disciplines:

1. Bachelor of International Business Administration
2. Bachelor of International Hotel Management
3. Bachelor of Smart Computing (Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Data Science, Cybersecurity, and IoT)
4. Bachelor of Artificial Intelligence
5. Bachelor of Korean Business AI

Don’t miss this opportunity to pursue your studies in a dynamic and globally oriented academic environment. Interested applicants are advised to complete and submit their applications before the deadline.

Get more details on https://iucea.org/call-for-applications-kdu-global-iucea-undergraduate-full-and-partial-scholarships-2026-7th-cohort/

Apply now and take the next step toward your academic and professional future.