The University of Edinburgh’s partnership work with the University of Ibadan provides a strong example of how international collaboration can create practical, shared opportunities across research, education and innovation.
A recent visit to the University of Ibadan in Nigeria highlighted the strength of the developing relationship between the two institutions and the range of opportunities for future collaboration. The visit offered a valuable opportunity to explore shared priorities and identify practical next steps across research, education and innovation.
The University of Edinburgh’s partnership work with the University of Ibadan provides a strong example of how international collaboration can create practical, shared opportunities across research, education and innovation. Recent discussions in Ibadan highlighted a broad range of areas in which the two institutions have clear shared interests, including sustainable agriculture and food security, future food systems, climate leadership, human-tropical forest interactions, ecological and biodiversity studies, public health, infectious disease and antimicrobial resistance. There was also interest in cross-cutting themes such as One Health, systems approaches to health, medical library collaboration, and innovation for climate adaptation.
The visit also highlighted a number of practical next steps to maintain momentum and translate initial discussions into activity. These included digital activities such as online lectures and panel discussions, student projects, visiting fellowships and research symposia, alongside stronger links between colleagues across both institutions. Reflections on the successful partnership-building process also emphasise the value of beginning with early practical opportunities, including visiting scholarships and library access for early-career researchers, as a way of building a foundation for more substantial collaboration over time.
Building meaningful institutional links
As the relationship develops, the University of Ibadan partnership provides a compelling illustration of the University’s wider partnership approach: building meaningful institutional links that support shared learning, strengthen capacity, and open up new routes for collaborative impact. By connecting expertise across disciplines while remaining grounded in locally relevant priorities, the partnership has the potential to support longer-term work on climate resilience, sustainable development and health. The visit underlined both the breadth of opportunity and the importance of sustained follow-up to ensure that promising discussions develop into practical collaboration.
