SDGs: geopolitical developments and the effect on education, research and projects
| When: | Mo 30-06-2025 10:15 - 18:00 |
| Where: | House of Connections |
On 30 June 2025, the University of Groningen’s Sub-Saharan Africa strategy team and the Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development will organise a symposium entitled SDGs: geopolitical developments and the effect on education, research and projects with sub-Saharan Africa.
Academics, PhD candidates, student (association)s and external stakeholders will address the following key question:
How can the University of Groningen, its African partners and external stakeholders keep furthering and accelerating the SDGs, internally and externally, given the current (geo) political context, and looking beyond 2030?
Join us for keynotes by Ms. Anna Pot, National Coordinator SDGs (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and Roel Kamerling (GROW), presentations by the 2025 SSA PhD and Master thesis prize winners, interactive Round Tables with among others Prof. George Ladaah Openjuru (Vice Chancellor Gulu University) and other sessions with UG / SSA academics, PhD candidates and students, and of course for networking.
Pre-programme
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Time
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Session
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10:15 - 10:45
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Coffee and Q&A session with Roel Kamerling (GROW TU Delft)
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11:00 - 11:10
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Opening
Chair: Dr. Frank Tsiwah (Faculty of Arts)
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11:10 - 11:45
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Presentations by SSA MA & PhD Thesis Award winners
Dr. Martine van Zeijst and Nancy Bayoumi, MA
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11:45 - 12:30
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Two parellel sessions
1. Student session
Chair: Mateo Bril
2. PhD session
Chair: Ivana Zecevic
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12:30 - 13:00
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Lunch
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Programme
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Time
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Session
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13:00 - 13:10
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Opening by the Chair
Dr. Caitlin Ryan (International Relations and Organisation, Faculty of Arts) |
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13:10 - 13:30
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Welcome and brief introduction to the UG Schools
Ms. Irene Maltagliati, MSc (Rudolf Agricola School)
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13:30 - 14:00
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The SDG’s, It’s Our Common Agenda
Mrs. Anna Pot, MSc (National Coordinator SDGs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Discussant: Dr. Karsten Schulz (Campus Fryslân)
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14:00 - 14:30
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Understanding and addressing African SDGs using transdisciplinary science collaboration
Roel Kamerling, MSc
Discussant: Prof. Robert Lensink (Faculty of Economics and Business)
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14:30 - 14:45
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Break
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14:45 - 15:45
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Two parallel Round Tables
1. Round Table on SDGs and Research projects in Africa
Chair: Dr. Frank Tsiwah (Faculty of Arts)
2. UNESCO
Chair: Dr. Johan Kolsteeg (Faculty of Arts)
Discussant: Dr. Lourens van Haaften (Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences)
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15:45 - 16:30
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A threefold approach to understand SDG interactions for systemic prioritization
Interactive Plenary Workshop led by Dr. Prajal Pradhan (FSE) and Dr. Anne Warchold (FSE) |
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16:30 - 17:00
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Panel / closing the loop: What can universities / UG, its African partners and external stakeholders do to further the SDGs, including beyond 2030? Recommendations.
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17:00 - 18:00
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Closure and drinks
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