Makerere Becomes First African University to Join Global Foreign Studies Alliance

Hangzhou, China – Makerere University has become the first African institution to join the prestigious Global Alliance of Foreign Studies Universities (GAFSU), marking a historic milestone in the university’s internationalisation drive.

The announcement was made by Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, who revealed that the admission took place on Thursday in Hangzhou, China.

“Yesterday in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, Makerere University was admitted to the Global Alliance of Foreign Studies Universities, becoming the first African university to join the 23-year-old global alliance,” Prof. Nawangwe stated. “On behalf of Makerere University, I pledged Makerere’s contribution to the objectives of the Alliance.”

The Global Alliance of Foreign Studies Universities brings together leading institutions from around the world to promote collaboration in international education, language studies, diplomacy, and global research.

Makerere’s entry signals Africa’s growing role in shaping global academic dialogue and cross-cultural exchange.

MoU with Beijing Foreign Studies University

While in China, Prof. Nawangwe also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Prof. Jia Wenjian, President of Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU). The agreement is expected to strengthen cooperation in research and training in international studies.

“The MoU will streamline our collaboration in research and training in international studies,” Nawangwe noted, following a meeting with BFSU leadership.

In addition, the Makerere Vice Chancellor co-chaired the annual Confucius Institute Board meeting at Makerere alongside Prof. Liao Yongan, President of Xiangtan University in Changsha.

The two leaders agreed to expand the training of Chinese language teachers to meet the rising demand for Mandarin courses in Uganda and the broader East African region.

“The Board agreed to enhance the training of teachers of the Chinese language to address the rising demand for Chinese courses,” said Prof. Nawangwe.

Earlier in the week, he participated in the 23rd Conference on the International Exchange of Professionals in Shanghai, where he highlighted the importance of regional and international collaboration in research, particularly in the emerging fields of artificial intelligence and transdisciplinary studies.

Adding to a series of partnerships, Nawangwe announced that the joint application by Makerere University and Tsinghua University—Asia’s top-ranked university—to establish a Joint Safety Laboratory in Uganda has been approved by the Chinese government.

“The joint Safety Laboratory at Makerere, through the Belt and Road Initiative, has been approved,” he said. “Tsinghua and Makerere researchers can now conduct advanced research in Uganda’s natural disasters, including landslides, floods, and earthquakes.”

The developments underscore Makerere University’s growing global footprint and its commitment to research collaboration, language education, and technological innovation.