Prof. Dr. Patrício V. Langa

The colloquium will delve into the notion of an "African" university by examining the distinct characteristics that set universities in Africa apart from those in other parts of the world. The discussion will aim to uncover valuable insights gained from conducting higher education research in Africa and explore the potential contributions of African higher education to the global academic community. This exploration is particularly important as modern universities extend their influence globally, moving beyond their traditional dominance in Western societies. The colloquium seeks to address the significance of integrating theoretical perspectives and approaches based on Africa's experience of the university and aims to foster a comprehensive understanding of the diverse and dynamic landscape of (African) higher education.

Patrício Langa is a sociologist and Professor of Comparative Higher Education, Policy, and Innovation Studies at Eduardo Mondlane University (U.E.M.), Mozambique, where he formally advised the Rector on strategic planning. His research interest is in the intersection of sociology, higher education and science studies. Langa is currently an international Senior Fellow at the UA Ruhr College for Social Sciences and Humanities. He has been a research fellow and visiting higher education and science studies professor at the Forum Internationale Wissenschaft, University of Bonn, Germany, and the Ali Mazrui Centre for Higher Education, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He collaborates with the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, USA, and Autonomous University of Lisbon, Portugal, and formerly collaborated with the Danube University Krems, Austria. Professor Langa served as the first executive director for external evaluation in the National Council on Higher Education Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Mozambique (CNAQ). He is the founding president of the Mozambican Sociological Association (A.M.S.) and established the African Consortium of Higher Education Researchers (ACHER).