Session 4: Internationalisation within the African Higher Education Context – Looking Ahead
Date: 5 November 2025
Time: 12:00 GMT
Aim: Explore a vision for the future of internationalisation in African HEIs within a global context and identify future research, teaching, policy, and practice directions.
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Episode 4 speakers:
Prof. Juliet Thondhlana (Speaker)
University of Nottingham
juliet.thondhlana@nottingham.ac.uk
Juliet Thondhlana is Professor and UNESCO Chairholder in International Education and Development as well as Head of the Association of African Universities Europe Regional Office. She has experience teaching, researching and publishing in the field of the internationalization of higher education and the curriculum; policy development, implementation and review; decolonisation; skilled migration and internationalization of doctoral training. She is lead editor of the ground-breaking Bloomsbury Handbook of the Internationalisation of Higher Education in the Global South. She is also lead guest editor of a Journal of the British academy Issue “Repositioning of Africa in knowledge production: shaking off historical stigmas”.
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Prof. Paluku Kazimoto Muyisa (Speaker)
pkazimoto@gmail.com
Prof. Paluku Kazimoto Muyisa is a university professor with dual Ph.D. degrees in Accounting and Finance, as well as Rural Development. He also holds two master’s degrees—one in Financial Management and another in Information Technology—along with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting Information Systems. His expertise spans financial management, information system, entrepreneurship, creative innovation, and socio-economic development within higher education institutions. With an extensive background in academic leadership, Prof. Kazimoto has played a pivotal role in university governance, education policy formulation, and curriculum development for higher learning institutions. His dedication to fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and capacity-building initiatives has been instrumental in empowering leaders and entrepreneurs, particularly in the context of indigenous development.
As a certified distance and online learning facilitator and course designer, Prof. Kazimoto holds a professional certificate in Adaptive Design for Learners (ADL), and diploma in Harmonization, Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Africa Higher Education Network (HAQAA). He has an extensive publication record, including numerous research articles, books, and book chapters. His contributions to academia and entrepreneurship have earned him multiple awards, particularly in recognition of his impactful community service. Prof. Kazimoto is deeply committed to advancing education, leadership, and innovation. His passion for knowledge dissemination and transformative impact continues to inspire both the academic and entrepreneurial communities.
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Dr. Afolake Atinuke Olanbiwoninu (Speaker)
Ajayi Crowther University, Nigeria
aa.olanbiwoninu@acu.edu.ng
My name is Dr Afolake Olanbiwoninu. I am an Associate Professor of Food Microbiology. I worked with Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Nigeria as a lecturer and researcher since 2013.
I started my career in Higher Education as an Assistant Lecturer in 2013 and I have risen to the level of an Associate Professor. I have upheld several administrative roles within the University system.
Currently, I am the Acting Director, Research, Innovation and Linkages for the institution, since 2023 to date. The directorate has been working immensely to improve the global visibility of the school and improve its linkages with both local and international institutions.
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Prof. Felix Maringe (Speaker)
University of Kigali
fmaringe@uok.ac.rw
Felix Maringe is a Professor of Higher Education, current DVC for Institutional Development, Research and innovation at University of Kigali, former head of the Wits School of Education and Assistant Dean for Internationalisation and Partnerships at the Faculty of Humanities. He researches in areas of International Education, Leadership in educational environments of multiple deprivation and in Decoloniality in Higher Education. He is the current editor in chief of the Journal of Educational Studies.
After completing his doctorate, he was appointed as lecturer at the University of Southampton where he worked between 2004 and 2012, rising to the level of Senior Lecturer. Felix was appointed at Wits as Associate Professor in 2012 and became full Professor in 2015 in the department of Education Leadership and Policy Studies.
He has supervised 31 doctoral students to completion; one just started in February 2023.
Professor Maringe is extensively well published with 122 outputs including 13 edited and jointly authored books. His peer reviewed articles have been cited more than 5800 times and has a Google Scholar H-index of 32 and an i10 index of 57 indicating that 57 of his articles have been cited more than 10 times each. Three of his articles have achieved the status of classics after attaining more than 400 citations each.
He is an NRF rated scholar, an admitted Fellow of the South African Academy of Science and a Fellow of the British Higher Education Academy.
Felix is the current Editor in Chief of the Journal of Education Studies hosted at the University of Venda. With Tony Bush, Felix recently completed research on school leadership in Africa sponsored by the VVOB Rwanda. He is working on two competitive research grants currently; research on the internationalisation of Higher Education in public universities in South Africa, sponsored by the British Council and by the International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA).
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Dr. Khaled Tamzini (Speaker)
University of Sousse, Tunisia
tamzinik@gmail.com
Khaled TAMZINI is a Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship at the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management of Sousse, University of Sousse, Tunisia. Khaled TAMZINI received his PhD degree from the Faculty of Economic Sciences and management Sciences of Tunis in 2014. He is one of the founders of the Quality direction of the University of Sousse. He is a referent to the student entrepreneur center of the University of Sousse. He was named as responsible of “the Entrepreneurship domain” of the MED-QUAD Project (2020-2023). He is member of the Transfer project (eStartup Academy Building Capabilities for the Future Work) since 2022. He is a member of the Safir project: creation or strengthening of university incubators in North Africa and the Middle East (AUF – Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie). He has served since 2024 as academic coordinator of the Blue Era Project (ERASMUS+). He has more than 30 publications (articles, books, chapters of books, chapters of encyclopedias, conference papers). He served as a session chair for several prestigious international conferences (AOM, EURAM, AIB, AGRH, EIBA). He reviewed more than 70 papers for 26 international conferences and journals. Since 2023 he has been named as a member of the Editorial Review Board of the International Journal of Applied Management Theory and Research (IJAMTR) and MACI Journal. He served in 2024 as a speaker at the Maiden Edition of the “Emerging Issues in African Higher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa” webinar series – Episode 3 “Boosting Faculty Development in Higher Education Institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa”.
He founded and managed for 8 years (2006-2014) a recruitment agency. He justifies experience of over 20 years (since 2001) as a senior trainer for the account of several national companies in the field of Management and Entrepreneurship. Currently, Khaled TAMZINI serves as a President of the Observatory (Information Hub) of the University of Sousse in charge of the university life (Student Employability, Curriculum, etc.).
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Ms. Lina Salomão (Speaker)
Moi University, Kenya
linasalomao2014@gmail.com
Lina Salomão is a PhD candidate in Anthropology at Moi University, Kenya, specializing in gender relations, education, and social equity. She holds a Master’s degree in Education Sciences from Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM), Mozambique, and a Bachelor’s degree in Pedagogy and Psychology from the Pedagogical University.
With over a decade of experience in university administration, Lina served as Head of Division at UEM’s Directorate of Administration of Heritage and Institutional Development. As a researcher and lecturer, she has contributed to various academic programs, focusing on school dropout, gender-based violence, and health inequalities, particularly among marginalized groups.
Lina has actively participated in international research initiatives, including the AMAS Project (Africa Mobility for African Sustainability) and the Social Science Research Council’s Next Generation of Social Sciences in Africa program. She successfully adapted the “SPECS” model to address gender-based violence in educational settings and is a founding member of the HAQAA3 Network, which promotes higher education quality across Africa.
Currently, she is a researcher at the Center for Educational Research and Studies (CEPED) at UEM and a participant in the Women’s Leadership Programme at the Uongozi Institute in Tanzania. Lina’s research and advocacy work aim to design practical interventions that address gender inequality and educational barriers. Her long-term vision includes establishing a research and action hub to foster collaboration between policymakers and practitioners, driving transformative change in education systems and improving outcomes for marginalized communities in Mozambique and beyond.
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Prof. Sulaiman Adenike Faoziyat (Speaker)
University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State
sulaiman.af@unilorin.edu.ng
Professor Faoziyat Adenike Sulaiman is a distinguished academic and researcher in the field of Biochemistry. She currently serves as a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. With a strong background in teaching and research, she has contributed significantly to the advancement of biochemistry through her scholarly work and mentorship.
Professor Sulaiman holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Ilorin, which she obtained in 2012, following her M.Sc. in Biochemistry from the same institution in 2006. She earned her B.Sc. in Biochemistry from the University of Ilorin, laying the foundation for her academic career.
Her professional journey includes serving as a Reader in the Department of Biochemistry before being appointed Professor in 2023. With extensive experience in research and teaching, she continues to make meaningful contributions to the academic community.
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Dr. Krishna Bista (Speaker)
Morgan State University
krishna.bista@morgan.edu
Krishna Bista is Vice President of the STAR Scholars Network. As an international expert of higher education, Dr. Bista has published more than 60 papers in professional journals and ten books on a wide range of topics related to college access and success, international faculty issues, and global student mobility. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Advanced Studies, Leadership and Policy at Morgan State University, Maryland. Previously, Dr. Bista served as the director of Global Education at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, where he was Chase Endowed Professor of Education in the School of Education.
Dr. Bista’s recent books include Online Teaching and Learning in Higher Education During Covid -19 (w/Chan & Allen; Routledge); International Students at US Community Colleges (w/Malveaux; Routledge); and Inequalities in Study Abroad and Student Mobility (w/Kommers; Routledge). Dr. Bista is the Founding Editor of the Journal of International Students, a quarterly publication on international higher education; and the Founding Chair of CIES- Study Abroad and International Students SIG. He is also the senior editor of the Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education. Dr. Bista presents annually at national and international conferences—American Educational Research Association, Comparative and International Educational Society, and Association for the Study of Higher Education.
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Dr. Agyemang Okyere Darko (Moderator)
Association of African Universities
aodarko@aau.org
Dr. Agyemang Okyere Darko exemplifies dedication and excellence in his professional and academic pursuits. Serving as a Research & Programs Assistant at the Association of African Universities (AAU) and a Business and Media Consultant with the Wealth Masters Group International, Dr. Okyere Darko is driven by a passion for nurturing young leaders. His journey through academia and professional achievements underscores his commitment to empowering future leaders, particularly focusing on youth development.
Dr. Okyere Darko’s robust academic background includes a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Professional Studies, Accra, Ghana. His thirst for knowledge led him to pursue a Ph.D. in STEM Education and Entrepreneurship (Biology) at the African Centre of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative STEM Education at Lagos State University, Nigeria. This dedication to learning is mirrored in his significant contributions to the academic community.
Beyond academia, Dr. Okyere Darko launched a podcast, “Life and Living with Agyemang Okyere Darko,” where he shares motivational stories, inspiring listeners globally.
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Dr. Joanna AlYoussef (Moderator)
University of Nottingham, UK
Dr.Joanna.Alyoussef@protonmail.com
Dr Joanna Al-Youssef is Assistant Professor at the School of Education, the University of Nottingham.She has been teaching and researching at higher education institutions in the UK and abroad since 1995. Her key interests and expertise are in the Internationalisation of Higher Education, including internationalisation policy and practice, and philosophical and methodological approaches to internationalisation. She launched, and has chaired, the Internationalisation of Higher Education Institutions webinar since 2007, with the primary aim of bringing together members of higher education institutions from around the globe in an open and inclusive space for discussion and reflections around the broad area of internationalisation of higher education.
Joanna is a member of the Centre for International Education Research (CIER). She is currently serving on the University of Nottingham’s UNESCO Chair Committee contributing to the work of the UNESCO Chair in International Education and Development.
Since joining the University of Nottingham in 2010, Joanna has taught on various programmes at the School of Education and CELE (Centre for English Language Education). She also supervises PhD and EdD research projects.
Joanna has an MA in English Language Teaching (MA ELT) from the University of Nottingham, UK, and an EdD (Doctor of Education) from the University of Bath, UK.
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