Proposal for MONASH Africa Research Institute (MARI)

2 Why MONASH Africa Research Institute? No existing African Research Centre in Australia Growing importance of links with Africa – trade and migration Opportunity to build Monash research profile in Africa Opportunity to improve links with MSA and other universities in Africa Opportunity for Monash to lead closer collaboration with Africa and contribute to African development goals

3 MARI’s Mission: To promote and support research in Africa by Australian researchers, focusing on research and links in South Africa but also including research in other parts of Sub-Saharan Africa

4 How? Australian hub, led by prominent scholar to provide academic leadership, coordinate and facilitate postgraduate research Australian-based Executive Office with officer to fund-raise; liaise with business, government and community; oversee external linkages African-based node at MSA with academic director to coordinate teaching and research in African Studies at MSA and liaise with Australian hub Eventual transfer of MARI hub to MSA

5 Key research areas: Economic development Public policy Governance Linguistics Medicine Public Health Water Policy Climate Change Migration History Anthropology Ethnography of language, language contact

6 Teaching initiatives Foster research-led coursework units in African Studies, both in Africa and Australia Key links with BA (Global) and student mobility in general

7 Research Training MARI to serve as Virtual Graduate School to coordinate postgraduate research study across Australia and, as technology improves, in Africa

8 Funding Seed funding from DVC(I) for Executive Director to seek external corporate and federal funding to fund ongoing Professor, administrative staff, HDR scholarships and research fellowships

9 Outcomes International research linkages/funding Increased HDRs Internationalised curriculum and curriculum exchange between MSA and Australia (in both directions) Increased profile for Monash research in Africa and elsewhere Increased impact of Monash research on policy development in Australia and Africa