SIMAD University participated in the 2nd IGAD Universities Forum, held in Juba, South Sudan from 21–22 April 2026. The University was represented by the Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Dahir Abdi Ali, at this high-level regional engagement organized by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Secretariat through its Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (ESTI) Programme, in collaboration with the European Union.
The Forum brought together senior representatives from both public and private universities across IGAD Member States to advance dialogue on higher education as a driver of regional integration, human capital development, and sustainable transformation, in line with the African Union Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This platform builds on the commitments of the 2017 Djibouti Declaration on Refugee Education, which underscores the role of universities in expanding equitable access to quality education for refugees, returnees, and host communities. The Forum aligns with the work of the IGAD Council of Higher Education (ICHE), established in 2021 to strengthen regional coordination, quality standards, and academic collaboration.
Key discussions during the Forum focused on progress in the development and implementation of National Qualifications Frameworks (NQFs), guided by the IGAD Regional Qualifications Framework (IGADQF). Expanding access to the IGAD Regional Scholarship Programme for displacement-affected students and vulnerable host communities. Strengthening inter-university research collaboration across thematic priority areas. Enhancing student and staff mobility within the region. Promoting mutual recognition of academic qualifications in line with regional and continental frameworks.
The Forum also reviewed milestones achieved since the establishment of the IGAD Universities’ Forum in 2021, including governance structures such as the Board of Universities, and emphasized the need for stronger partnerships, resource mobilization, and knowledge-sharing to drive impactful research and innovation.
One of the key outcomes of the forum is that SIMAD University was formally admitted as a member of the IGAD Universities Forum and elected as one of the three newly added private universities to the expanded IGAD Council for Higher Education (ICHE) Board.
