Research Chairs Overview 

Application Deadline: October 31, 2026
Research Areas: Gender, Equity and Social Inclusion in Education | African Perspectives and Theories for Education
Call for Applications: Gender, Equity and Social Inclusion in Education and African Perspectives and Theories for Education.

Application portal: HERI Africa — Harnessing Education Research for Impact in Africa

Africa’s education systems are shaped by diverse people, experiences, knowledge and contexts. Across the continent, researchers and communities are generating evidence and ideas that can help education systems respond to these realities. 

The opportunity now is to strengthen this work and create more space for African perspectives, knowledge and scholarship to shape the future of education. 

HERI Africa is building a growing network of Research Chairs that brings together researchers, universities, policymakers, practitioners and communities to strengthen education research and connect knowledge with the decisions and practices that shape education across Africa. 

Building on this foundation, HERI Africa is expanding its Research Chair portfolio with two new areas of focus: Gender, Equity and Social Inclusion in Education, and African Perspectives and Theories for Education. 

Two New Research Chairs 

Building on this growing portfolio, HERI Africa is inviting applications for two new Research Chairs: 

• Gender, Equity and Social Inclusion in Education 

The Gender, Equity and Social Inclusion in Education Research Chair will support research exploring how education systems can become more equitable and inclusive, with a focus on gender and the experiences, perspectives and aspirations of diverse communities and learners. 

The Chair will support the generation and use of evidence to inform policies and practices that expand opportunities, address inequities, and enable more learners to thrive. 

By bringing researchers and education stakeholders together around these questions, the Chair will contribute to a stronger understanding of how education systems can better respond to the needs and aspirations of diverse learners and communities. 

• African Perspectives and Theories for Education 

The African Perspectives and Theories for Education Research Chair will advance African knowledge, experiences and perspectives as an important part of how education is researched, understood and transformed. 

By strengthening African scholarship and advancing theories grounded in African contexts, the Chair will contribute to a richer body of educational knowledge that reflects African realities and informs educational thinking both on the continent and globally. 

The Chair will create space for African researchers and institutions to contribute knowledge and perspectives to wider conversations on education, while strengthening the foundations of locally grounded and globally relevant scholarship. 

Who Should Apply? 

Applicants are encouraged to review the full Call for Applications carefully to confirm their eligibility and understand the requirements for each Research Chair. 

What is on Offer? 

The two new Research Chairs will give successful researchers the opportunity to lead and strengthen research in their respective areas while contributing to a wider community of African education researchers and institutions. 

The Research Chairs will support opportunities to: 

• Generate and strengthen high-quality, contextually relevant education research. 

• Advance African scholarship, evidence and perspectives. 

• Build connections between researchers, universities, policymakers, practitioners and communities. 

• Contribute evidence and ideas to education policy and practice. 

• Strengthen the visibility and influence of African education research. 

How to Apply 

Interested and eligible researchers are invited to review the full Call for Applications and submit their applications through the links below. 

Read the full Call for Applications: Gender, Equity and Social Inclusion in Education and African Perspectives and Theories for Education. 

Submit your application: HERI Africa — Harnessing Education Research for Impact in Africa 

Application deadline: 31st October 2026. 

We encourage researchers, universities, research institutions and education partners across Africa to share this opportunity with eligible scholars and colleagues. 

Three Research Chairs Already Established 

The two new Research Chairs build on three existing Chairs established by HERI Africa in partnership with leading universities in Kenya: 

• Language Education Research Chair: Kisii University

  The Chair focuses on strengthening research and evidence in language education and contributing to improved understanding of language and learning in African contexts. 

• Mathematics Education Research Chair: University of Embu

  The Chair advances research in mathematics education, with a particular focus on strengthening foundational numeracy and generating evidence to improve mathematics learning. 

• Life Skills & Values Research Chair: Kenyatta University

  The Chair supports research on life skills and values education, contributing to knowledge and approaches that can support learners’ holistic development. 

Together, these Chairs support HERI Africa’s broader ambition to strengthen Africa’s education research ecosystem and create stronger pathways for evidence and ideas to inform education policy and practice. 

A Growing African Education Research Community 

The five Research Chairs collectively support HERI Africa’s commitment to building a strong, connected African education research community, where researchers and institutions can generate evidence, exchange ideas, and see their knowledge inform education policy and practice. 

Together, the Chairs create opportunities to bring researchers, institutions, policymakers, practitioners and partners together for important conversations about the future of education. 

They also strengthen pathways for evidence and ideas to move beyond research outputs and contribute to policy, practice and public debate. 

Ultimately, HERI Africa is working alongside Africa’s research community to create an education research ecosystem where African researchers and institutions have greater opportunities to shape the questions, evidence and ideas that influence education. 

Why These Research Chairs Matter 

Education systems across Africa face complex and interconnected challenges that require evidence grounded in the realities of the continent. 

Research that reflects the experiences of African learners and communities can help identify what works, understand where change is needed, and inform policies and practices relevant to different contexts. 

The new Research Chairs will help create greater opportunities for African researchers to contribute to these conversations, while strengthening connections between research, policy, practice and communities. 

Through this approach, HERI Africa seeks to support researchers and institutions as they generate knowledge, build partnerships and contribute to more inclusive, relevant and transformative education across Africa. 

HERI Africa is committed to working alongside Africa’s research community to strengthen evidence, amplify knowledge and create pathways for African ideas to inform the decisions that shape education.