Structure and main objectives of the new Centre of African Excellence

© UKUDLA

The centre is founded upon three pillars: capacity building, research and transfer.

Situated at the intersection of agri-food systems and data science, the centre employs data-driven and digital approaches for applied research. The primary objectives of this approach are threefold: firstly, to optimise the functioning of food systems; secondly, to improve practice, transfer and food system outcomes; and thirdly, to offer high-level training and capacity building for sustainable food systems management.
In addition to capacity-building measures, the project also supports African and German lecturers, doctoral students, postdocs and early-career scientists. Furthermore, two research chairs (funded by the DAAD and NRF) will be established at the University of the Western Cape and at the University of Mpumalanga for the subject area. Moreover, a special focus is to be placed on the transfer of current research findings to science, business, politics and civil society.

What we stand for

The isiZulu, siSwati, and Ndebele word for ‘food’.

The acronym reflects the Nguni translation of the Centre‘s title: 

1.⁠ ⁠*U*kuzenzela (Sustainable)

2.⁠ ⁠*K*uhlangula (Resilient)

3.⁠ ⁠*U*kutya (Food)

4.⁠ ⁠*D*atha (Data)

5.⁠ ⁠*L*wezolimo (Agricultural)

6.⁠ ⁠*A*frika (Africa)

It reflects the diversity of Southern Africa, embodying the essence of the nourishment of people (umtu) and the earth (umhlaba).

Research

Research will be focused on the intersection of agri-food systems and data science. The overall research objective is to use data-driven and digital approaches to optimise the functioning of the food system and improve outcomes, with a particular focus on the sustainability and resilience of the system under stress or in extreme conditions. Three user-centred research sites provide opportunities where research processes can be integrated into real-life communities and settings. These living laboratories, (two in South Africa and one in Malawi) will serve to operationalise the Centre’s transdisciplinary research and transfer activities. Two complementary research chairs will be integrated into the research activities of the Centre. The Chairs will be embedded in the two South African research sites located in the provinces of the Western Cape and Mpumalanga.

Excellence in research – integrated and inclusive

  • Integrative and inclusive: supporting diversity and gender with a focus on disadvantaged and emerging institutions
  • Interdisciplinary data driven scientific approaches
    • From resources to consumption; from data to knowledge and applications
    • Covering and digitally connecting a wide range of agroecological production and food systems
    • Impact focused – transforming food system outcomes
  • Interconnected: from science to practice using transdisciplinary and digital approaches
    • Offering learning opportunities for active students, alumni, and professionals
  • Interregional: across South Africa and beyond
    • Different institutions and research sites in South Africa
    • Integrating Southern Africa in research and transfer
    • Tapping into an international partner network (e.g. ARUA, ELLS, DAAD alumni, …)
  • Long-standing experience in food and farming system analysis

 

 

Capacity building

Capacity building is the foundation of UKUDLA and will be delivered through the training of postgraduate students (at Master’s and PhD level), mentoring of postdoctoral research fellows (PDRF), and supporting the training and life-long learning of stakeholders. Capacity building will be facilitated by a dedicated Graduate Centre that will serve as a vehicle for delivering a diverse offering of training content (academic and non-academic) related to food systems, data science, and other skills required for postgraduate and academic success and life-long learning. The Centre will initially offer two certificate programs: one focused on food system analysis and the other on data science. These programs will be interconnected through shared modules, common training in graduate soft skills, shared graduate attributes, and the development of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).

Transfer activities

Transfer activities are fundamental to our approach and will inform the research and capacity building components of the Centre. We will adopt a knowledge co-production framework as a collaborative process in which researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders work together to generate new knowledge or insights. Our approach therefore follows an application-oriented transfer cycle. We do this to address the complex problems of food system analysis through the integration of diverse perspectives, expertise, and experiences.