Fruitful symposium explores how UG and African partners can drive the SDGs forward

On 30 June 2025, the University of Groningen’s Sub‑Saharan Africa strategy team and the Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development, hosted a symposium at the House of Connections entitled SDGs: geopolitical developments and the effect on education, research and projects with Sub‑Saharan Africa. 

With nearly 100 participants, including academics, PhD candidates, student associations, and external stakeholders, the event focused on a key question:

How can the University of Groningen, its African partners, and external stakeholders continue to advance and accelerate the SDGs, both internally and externally, in the current geopolitical context and looking beyond 2030? 

Inspiring Talks & Recognitions

The symposium began with an engaging session for PhD students led by Roel Kamerling (GROW). This was followed by the celebration of the 2024 SSA Master and PhD Thesis Award winners: Ms. Nancy Bayoumi and Dr. Martine van der Zeijst. Both winners presented their research, showing why they were selected for the awards. Following their presentations, the jury awarded their prize. 

Keynote speakers Dr. Anna Pot, National Coordinator for the SDGs at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Roel Kamerling of GROW shared their expertise on the SDGs and the understanding and addressing of African SDGs using transdisciplinary science collaboration.

Interactive Sessions

In addition to the keynotes, the day featured round-table discussions, including one with Prof. George Openjuru, Vice-Chancellor of Gulu University, and others with project PIs, PhD students and students. The sessions generated rich insights and practical recommendations in regards to the key question.

The event concluded with an interactive workshop led by Dr. Prajal Pradhan and Dr. Anne Warchold, focusing on a threefold approach to understand SDG interactions for systemic prioritization. The final panel discussion, featuring Roel Kamerling, Dr. Anna Pot, and Prof. George Openjuru, brought together key findings from the day and encouraged the University and its communities to continue research and stimulate reflections and dialogue internally and externally.

Next Steps

Participants’ recommendations will be incorporated into a memo that will be shared with the University Board after the summer break.

Presentations