Southern African-Nordic Centre

Southern African-Nordic Centre at 20: Share Your Story, Shape Our Legacy

For two decades, SANORD has fostered meaningful collaboration, strengthened partnerships, and advanced research and higher education across the Southern African and Nordic regions. As we celebrate SANORD's 20th anniversary, we are developing a commemorative publication that captures the people, partnerships, milestones, and impact that have shaped our network, and we'd love your voice to be part of it.

Whether you've been involved as a student, researcher, academic, professional staff member, or institutional leader, your reflections and experiences matter.

📝 Contribute here: https://form.jotform.com/261752281781562
📅 Submission Deadline: 15 July 2026

Your contribution will help tell the collective story of SANORD's journey and inspire future generations of collaboration. Thank you for helping us celebrate this important milestone.

SANORD’s 20th Anniversary Commemorative Publication Survey Please click the link to complete this form.

📢 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Conference Delegate Support (CDS) – SANORD Conference 2026

Are you a student or staff member from a SANORD Member Institution in Southern Africa with an accepted abstract for presentation at the SANORD Conference 2026 in Windhoek, Namibia?

A limited number of Conference Delegate Support (CDS) grants are available to support eligible delegates.

✅ Eligibility Criteria
• Accepted abstract for presentation at SANORD 2026
• Affiliation with a SANORD Member Institution
• Main author of the accepted abstract

🎓 The CDS Grant Covers
• Conference Registration Fees
• Accommodation

Please note that the grant provides partial funding only, and applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
📅 Application Deadline: 21 July 2026
📢 Outcome of Applications: 4 August 2026

🔗 Apply here: https://forms.gle/pBrpW12WG4kUid5f8

⚠️ Applications must be submitted online.
⚠️ No email applications will be considered.
⚠️ Late applications will not be accepted.

📧 For enquiries: [email protected]

We encourage all eligible delegates to apply and join us for SANORD 2026 in Windhoek as we continue to strengthen academic collaboration and research partnerships across the SANORD network.

As South Africa commemorated Youth Day 2026 and marks the 50th Anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, yesterday, the University of the Western Cape's International Relations Office honours the courage, conviction and sacrifice of the young people of 1976. Their defiance against the injustices of apartheid not only transformed South Africa's liberation struggle but also galvanised international solidarity, strengthening the global anti-apartheid movement and contributing to the democratic society we enjoy today. Fifty years later, the lessons of 1976 remain profoundly relevant. The youth of today face a different set of challenges, from unemployment and inequality to the demands of an increasingly interconnected world. Yet the spirit of resilience, leadership and social responsibility demonstrated by the youth of Soweto continues to inspire. Through UWC's commitment to principled internationalisation, we strive to create opportunities that advance prosperity, development and global engagement for current and future generations. As we remember the past, we reaffirm our responsibility to empower young people to shape a more just, inclusive and sustainable future. #YouthDay2026 #SowetoUprising50 #UWC #Internationalisation #YouthEmpowerment #SocialJustice #GlobalEngagement

Celebrate Africa Day with SANORD – Join Our Upcoming Webinar!

What does the future of African higher education look like when women lead from the front?

This Africa Day, SANORD invites you to a powerful and thought‑provoking webinar: “Her Impact, Our Future: Women at the Forefront of African Higher Education.”

Hosted by SANORD’s Special Interest Group on Gender Balance and Equity in Higher Education, in partnership with the University of Johannesburg and the University of Eastern Finland, this event will:
- Share inspiring personal journeys
- Highlight institutional impact
- Explore pathways toward more equitable academic futures
- Celebrate the women transforming learning, research, and leadership across Africa

🗓 Date: Monday, 25 May 2026
⏰ Time: 11:00 – 12:30 SAST | 12:00 – 13:30 EEST

Let’s come together to reflect, learn, and drive meaningful change in higher education across the African continent.

Scan the QR code on the flyer or use the link to register: https://uwc.zoom.us/meeting/register/mt1x3KQ7Sy-P5Lc9_LcqNQ



Southern African-Nordic Centre
University of Johannesburg
University of Eastern Finland

Strengthening SANORD Partnerships

On Wednesday, 6 May 2026, the SANORD Central Office welcomed colleagues from VID Specialized University (Norway) during their visit to the UWC International Relations Office.

The engagement highlighted strong North-South partnerships through SANORD and NORPART, as well as ongoing collaboration with UWC in some academic programmes; and future collaborations.

Thank you for the engaging and forward-looking conversations.

We were pleased to welcome Håvåg Voldsund from HVL (Western Norway University of Applied Sciences) to the SANORD Central Office on 22 April 2026.

The visit offered a valuable opportunity to strengthen dialogue and explore future collaboration within the SANORD network.

Thank you for the engaging visit and discussions.

Abstract submission deadline extended to 27 April 2026!

New venue: Mercure Hotel Windhoek, Namibia
Conference dates: 22 – 25 September 2026

Don’t miss the opportunity to present your work at the 2026 SANORD Annual Conference under the theme “Reimagining Knowledge for Shared Development.”

Scholars, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and students from the Global South and North are encouraged to submit abstracts (max 300 words) to: [email protected]

Have you submitted your abstract?
Details: https://sanord.uwc.ac.za/news/call-for-abstracts-now-open-sanord-annual-conference-2026/