Future Africa hosts symposium to welcome new FAR-LeaF cohort

The Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship (FAR-LeaF), a flagship programme hosted by the University of Pretoria’s Future Africa pan-African platform, has entered its second phase with the induction of 22 postdoctoral fellows from 10 African countries.

The new cohort, FAR-LeaF II, gathered for the first time at a week-long symposium held at the Future Africa campus from 4 to 8 August 2025.

The fellows from Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Botswana, Malawi, Benin, and Zimbabwe represent a wide geographical spread that reflects the fellowship’s pan-African mission to develop the next generation of research leaders and to strengthen collaboration across the continent.

Funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, FAR-LeaF is an early-career research fellowship designed to equip Africa’s emerging scholars with both transdisciplinary research and leadership skills. The programme aims to build a network of scientists across Africa who can apply integrative approaches and work collaboratively to address complex challenges at the intersection of human well-being and the environment.

A week of knowledge exchange and connection

During the symposium, the fellows attended lectures by leading academics, including  Professor Colleen Vogel, Professor Derick de Jongh, Professor Emma Ruttkamp-Bloem, Professor Barend Erasmus, Professor Liesel Ebersohn, Professor Don Cowan, and Professor Chris Chimimba, who shared insights on leadership, resilience, sustainability, and interdisciplinary research.

The week gave the fellows an opportunity to connect in person with one another and the FAR-LeaF team, while also building networks, sharing ideas, and exploring opportunities for collaboration across the continent.

Another highlight of the symposium was the introduction of UP mentors, senior academics selected by FAR-LeaF Programme Director, Professor Stephanie Burton, to provide guidance, connections, and career support. For many fellows, the meetings with the mentors provided fresh perspectives on research approaches, opportunities for interdisciplinary work, and long-term career growth.

Prof Burton described the new cohort as a “strong group of talented and intelligent researchers with well-developed leadership skills”, noting that the programme is as much about fellows building their own networks as it is about training.

As FAR-LeaF II takes shape, the fellows will continue their journey through a combination of training, mentorship, and collaborative research. Their work will not only advance scholarship in their own fields but also contribute to the broader aim of strengthening Africa’s science systems and research leadership for global impact.

Future Africa is proud to host this new cohort and to support their growth into leaders who will help shape the continent’s future.