A high-level Kenyan delegation has concluded a strategic visit to South Africa, marking a significant step in strengthening Africa-led research systems and advancing the implementation of Research Chairs under HERI Africa.

Hosted by South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF), the visit brought together policymakers, university leaders, researchers, and development partners to examine one of the continent’s most established models for building research excellence, leadership, and real-world impact.

A timely step for HERI Africa

The visit comes at a critical moment as HERI Africa moves from launch to implementation.

Earlier this year, HERI Africa was launched at Kisii University alongside Kenya’s National Education Research Agenda (NERA), a major milestone aimed at aligning research with national priorities and strengthening the link between evidence, policy, and practice.

Since then, the programme has made strong progress in establishing Research Chairs aligned with these priorities:

• A Research Chair in Language Education at Kisii University
• A Research Chair in Mathematics Education at the University of Embu
• An upcoming Research Chair in Life Skills and Values Education at Kenyatta University, set for launch at the end of April

Together, these milestones signal a clear shift toward more coordinated, well-supported research systems designed to deliver real impact in Kenya and beyond.

Learning from experience, building for context

South Africa’s Research Chairs model offers lessons for building sustainable, high-impact research ecosystems.

Through direct engagement with the NRF and leading universities, the Kenyan delegation explored how Research Chairs are funded, governed, and embedded within institutions—and how they enable researchers to generate evidence that shapes policy and practice.

From insight to implementation

The visit is expected to directly shape the rollout of HERI Africa Research Chairs in Kenya.

The engagement reinforces the value of collaboration, demonstrating how African countries can learn from one another and adapt proven approaches to build stronger, more relevant research systems.

Building a stronger research future for Africa

As HERI Africa continues to expand, initiatives like this learning visit are helping to shape a research ecosystem that is locally grounded, globally competitive, and impact-driven.

The direction is clear.

By combining African expertise, shared learning, and sustained investment in research leadership, HERI Africa is laying the foundation for systems that not only generate knowledge, but use it to transform education outcomes across the continent.