New funding for South Africa–Sweden University Forum
Group photo from Research and Innovation Week in Sweden 2024, hosted by Lund University, SLU and Malmö University.
The South Africa–Sweden University Forum (SASUF), a collaboration between 25 South African and 12 Swedish partner universities coordinated by Uppsala University, is set to continue. At the end of June, SASUF+ received confirmation of funding for a further three years.
Anders Hagfeldt, Vice-Chancellor of Uppsala University. Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt
The funding comes from the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT) and the South African National Research Foundation (NRF). The new funding period for SASUF+ runs from August 2025 to August 2028.
“I am delighted that STINT will continue to support SASUF,” says Anders Hagfeldt, Vice-Chancellor of Uppsala University. “This will allow us to deepen our cooperation, while taking concrete steps towards decentralising the project to increase shared ownership and reach further into the community. With both a global and local mindset, SASUF+ will not only be a partnership, but a common platform for learning, action and long-term benefit.”
Plans for three years ahead
Over the next three years, a number of innovations are planned, according to Helin Bäckman Kartal, SASUF+ project coordinator.
“SASUF+ places great emphasis on shared ownership and decentralisation. Consequently, the project is divided into six work packages with two universities, one South African and one Swedish, leading each package. We are also expanding our cooperation by inviting a number of universities on the African continent to join us in various activities aimed at strengthening research collaboration between countries.”
To promote stronger cooperation between academia, society and industry, SASUF+ will use AIMdays (Academic Industry Meeting Days). These are days when actors from academia, society and business meet to discuss and try to find solutions to current societal challenges.
Promoting interdisciplinary research
In addition, SASUF+ will promote interdisciplinary research in four key thematic areas: Sustainable Health, Green Transition, Migration and Urbanisation, and Democracy, Social Justice and Indigenous Knowledge Systems.
SASUF is a collaboration between 25 South African and 12 Swedish partner universities
SASUF+ not only focuses on promoting research collaborations, it also has a strong student component.
“The project will offer student scholarships for fieldwork abroad, inspired by Minor Field Studies (MFS) scholarships,” says Bäckman Kartal. “This will provide practical experience and the opportunity for students to collect data for their theses abroad linked to research projects. Moreover, SASUF+ will enable longer mobility periods for doctoral students and postdocs, deepening cooperation and contributing to long-term research relationships.”
Coordinated from Uppsala University
Uppsala University will continue as the coordinating institution, with the Vice-Chancellor remaining project owner in the next phase as well. In the external review of the application for SASUF+ in June 2025, STINT writes:
“This pan-African vision not only broadens the impact but also strengthens Sweden’s role in global academic diplomacy. The commitment to ‘glocal’ thinking – bridging global challenges with local solutions – is particularly striking and confirms the relevance and timeliness of the project.”
Annica Hulth
The South Africa – Sweden University Forum (SASUF)
- A strategic internationalisation project bringing together partner universities in South Africa and Sweden with embassies, civil society organisations, funders and ministries in both countries.
- The project has engaged over 4,000 researchers, students, university leaders and funders in seminars and workshops and funded 109 international cooperation projects (linked to the Global Goals).