The University of The Gambia (UTG), led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Herbert Robinson, will participate in the 21st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), scheduled to take place from 1st to 5th December 2025 in Gaborone, Botswana.
This prestigious gathering is one of the most influential events on Africa’s higher education and agricultural innovation calendar. It brings together over 500 participants, including university leaders, policymakers, researchers, private sector actors, development partners, and young innovators from across Africa and beyond.
About RUFORUM
RUFORUM is a vibrant network of 175 member universities across 40 African countries, working together to strengthen the capacity of higher education institutions in advancing science, technology, and innovation for Africa’s transformation. Established in 2004 by 10 pioneering universities within Africa, the network plays a key role in connecting universities with governments and development partners to address pressing development challenges, particularly in agriculture, food systems, and rural livelihoods.
UTG’s Commitment to the RUFORUM Vision
The University of The Gambia is an active member of the RUFORUM network and continues to align its academic and research programs with RUFORUM’s mission to produce high-quality graduates, demand-driven research, and transformative innovations that contribute to sustainable development.
UTG’s participation in the 21st RUFORUM AGM underscores its growing role in advancing agricultural education, research, and youth empowerment within The Gambia and the wider African continent. The University remains committed to leveraging partnerships like RUFORUM to enhance food security, climate resilience, and entrepreneurship through knowledge-driven solutions.
Theme and Key Focus Areas
The 2025 RUFORUM AGM will be held under the theme:
“Positioning Africa’s Universities and the Higher Education Sector to Effectively Impact Development Processes on the Continent.”
This year’s discussions will revolve around four key subthemes:
- Strategic partnerships for growth: Building bridges for the future
- Science for development: Generating contemporary and relevant solutions at scale
- Capacity sharing: Training the next generation of leaders in agri-food systems transformation
- RUFORUM governance meetings
Over five days, the meeting will feature high-level plenary sessions, policy dialogues, exhibitions, and side events showcasing innovative research and university-led solutions to Africa’s most pressing challenges. It will also include the Vice Chancellors’ Forum, the TAGDev Partnership Council Meeting, and several networking sessions to strengthen collaboration between academia, industry, and development partners.
UTG’s Participation and Expected Outcomes
The University of The Gambia’s participation, led by Vice Chancellor Professor Herbert Robinson, will affirms its commitment to contributing to Africa’s higher education and agricultural transformation agenda. Through this engagement, UTG will:
- Showcase its initiatives in research, innovation, and community development;
- Strengthen institutional partnerships with universities and development partners across Africa;
- Engage in policy dialogues aimed at positioning universities as key actors in sustainable development; and
- Explore new opportunities for student and faculty exchange, research collaboration, and capacity building.
As UTG continues to advance its vision of becoming a centre of excellence in teaching, research, and community service, its participation in the RUFORUM AGM represents another significant step in promoting Africa-led solutions for Africa’s development.
For more information about the University of The Gambia, please visit www.utg.edu.gm