By Hassan Adan
SIMAD University has been selected to participate in the 17th Annual Meeting and Conference of the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), one of the region’s most influential gatherings dedicated to advancing higher education, research, innovation, and regional academic cooperation.
The conference will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from July 29 to 31, 2026, bringing together university presidents, vice-chancellors, rectors, senior academics, education ministers, policymakers, researchers, quality assurance experts, development partners, innovators, private sector leaders, and student representatives from across the East African Community (EAC) and beyond.
SIMAD University will be represented by its Rector, Dr. Abdikarim Mohaidin Ahmed, who has been invited to serve as a panelist alongside university leaders, policymakers, and higher education experts from across the East African Community.
His participation reflects the university’s growing recognition as a contributor to academic excellence, research, innovation, and regional collaboration.
The annual IUCEA conference is regarded as East Africa’s premier higher education forum, providing a platform for academic leaders and stakeholders to discuss emerging trends, strengthen regional collaboration, promote research partnerships, and develop strategies for improving the quality and global competitiveness of universities.
This year’s meeting is expected to focus on strategic partnerships, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, research commercialization, entrepreneurship, quality assurance, and strengthening collaboration between universities, governments, industry, and development partners.
Established in 1980, the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) is the specialized higher education institution of the East African Community (EAC).
Headquartered in Kampala, Uganda, the council is mandated to coordinate cooperation among universities and promote excellence in higher education across the region.
IUCEA plays a central role in harmonizing academic standards and qualifications, strengthening quality assurance systems, facilitating student and staff mobility, promoting research and innovation, and supporting collaborative programmes among universities in the eight EAC partner states—Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The council operates through financial contributions from EAC partner states, complemented by support from international development partners and donor-funded programmes that advance research, institutional capacity building, quality assurance, and regional academic integration.
Held once every year, the IUCEA Annual Meeting and Conference serves as the council’s flagship event, enabling higher education leaders to review progress, exchange best practices, address emerging challenges, and shape policies that strengthen universities across East Africa.
Over the years, the university has strengthened its reputation through investments in quality education, scientific research, technological innovation, and international partnerships, positioning itself among Somalia’s leading higher education institutions.
Its participation in the Nairobi conference is expected to create new opportunities for collaboration with universities, research institutions, policymakers, and development partners across Africa and beyond, while reinforcing Somalia’s growing role in regional higher education, research, and innovation.
The conference is also expected to produce recommendations aimed at strengthening higher education systems, enhancing academic mobility, expanding research collaboration, and improving the international competitiveness of East African universities.
