CBS re­ceives ma­jor grant to boost col­lab­or­a­tion with Afric­an uni­ver­sit­ies

Every year, thousands of international students come to Denmark in search of knowledge, experiences and new opportunities. However, despite Africa’s large share of the world’s young population, only a small number of African students come to Denmark as part of their education.

A new project at CBS seeks to change this. CBS has received DKK 35.9 million from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Knowledge and Innovation Programme for Africa, Business and Society, a multi-year partnership with universities in Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. According to Professor Lindsay Whitfield, one of the academic leads of the project, the ambition is to create a learning environment where students from Africa, Denmark and the rest of the world engage with global challenges together.

“We aim to strengthen the capacity of students and lecturers at all four universities so that they become stronger critical thinkers, ethical entrepreneurs and responsible leaders who can navigate a world marked by geopolitical uncertainty, technological change, climate pressures and rising inequality,” she says.

Intense competition for funding

The project is one of only five selected from 22 applications to the ministry’s programme. The grant will support collaboration between CBS and University of Ghana Business School, University of Nairobi and University of Johannesburg. The application was submitted by CBS’ Dean of Education and was made in coordination with a group of CBS researchers working in Africa, the Global Business and Politics Study Board and the International Office at CBS. Lindsay Whitfield,  Lisa Ann Richey, Mogens Kamp Justesen, Stefano Ponte, Stine Jessen Haakonsson, Søren Jeppesen and Thilde Langevang are the CBS academic leads. The partnership includes joint teaching, research seminars and the development of new educational formats. The aim is to prepare future leaders and academics to better understand and address global crises and transitions.

“The programme allows us to develop genuinely global ways of teaching about business and society. It is about bringing students together so they learn to analyse complex issues from multiple perspectives,” says Lindsay Whitfield.

Scholarships to open doors for more African students

African economies and the wider Global South are playing an increasingly significant role in global trade, supply chains, investment and geopolitical developments. Universities must reflect this reality, says Stefano Ponte, one of the academic leads and continues:

“It is time to change how we teach the Global South within business education. African economies are developing rapidly and are already central to global markets. Our programmes need to reflect that.”

A significant portion of the funding will go towards scholarships that cover tuition fees, travel and living costs for African students who are admitted to CBS. “A more diverse classroom will strengthen the learning experience for everyone. When the Global North as well as the Global South are represented, our analyses of global challenges such as climate, technology and geopolitics become noticeably stronger,” says Lisa Ann Richey, Head of Studies, Global Business and Politics.