UbuntuNet-Connect 2025 opened its doors on 30th October this year at HICC Rainbow Towers in Harare, drawing together the continent’s brightest minds under the inspiring theme “Resilient and Sustainable Research and Education Networks for the Future
” Hosted by the Zimbabwe Research and Education Network (ZIMREN), the annual gathering once again proved itself to be a cornerstone event on Africa’s research and education calendar; one that inspires, challenges, and accelerates collaboration across borders. This year’s conference was graced by the Guest of Honour, Hon. Minister Dr. Frederick Shava, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development for the Government of Zimbabwe, whose presence underscored national and regional commitment to advancing digital transformation in research and academia.
UbuntuNet-Connect 2025 brought together a vibrant community of 252 participants from 34 countries, reinforcing its reputation as one of Africa’s most diverse research and education networking events.
The statistics paint a powerful picture:
- Zimbabwe led with 108 participants (42.86%), reflecting the strong local support for the event.
- Kenya (7.54%), Zambia (6.75%), Malawi (6.35%), and Uganda (5.95%) rounded out the top five participating countries.
- Delegates also attended from across Africa and beyond—including Germany, the United Kingdom, South Sudan, Mauritius, and others—highlighting UbuntuNet Alliance’s global reach.
The gender distribution revealed that 40% participation was female, an indication of inclusivity and representation.
Quality and depth defined this year’s programme. The conference featured six keynote speakers, each addressing critical themes shaping the future of research and education in Africa.
One of the standout moments was the keynote address by Prof. Arthur G.O. Mutambara, who delivered a compelling exploration of the implications of Artificial Intelligence on research and education, challenging institutions to embrace AI as both a tool and a strategic imperative.
Over the two-day gathering, participants engaged with 41 presentations spread across 12 parallel sessions, covering topics from cybersecurity, digital identity, and open science to high-performance computing, research data management, and national research and education network (NREN) best practices. For those who missed sessions or wish to revisit the insights, all conference presentations are accessible on AfricArXiv, the African open-access research repository here.
UbuntuNet-Connect 2025 was made possible through the strong support of UbuntuNet Alliance’s partners, most notably the European Union under the Global Gateway’s AfricaConnect project, whose contribution continues to advance connectivity and boost research capacity across the continent. The Alliance also recognizes with gratitude the commitment of its sponsors:
- Gold Sponsor: Astria Learning
- Silver Sponsor: RDCT
- Bronze sponsor: Core2Africa, Crossref, BCS, SEACOM, MAREN
- Amber Sponsor: WIOCC, KENET, ZAMREN, TENET, BERNET, iRENALA
UbuntuNet-Connect 2025 reaffirmed what has become increasingly clear: Africa’s research and education networks are not just growing, they are thriving, innovating, and shaping the continent’s digital future. With strong regional partnerships, visionary leadership, and a community committed to collaboration, the momentum continues toward a more connected and empowered African research ecosystem.
Reliving the Experience
For a richer look back at the event, several media resources are available:
Conference Video Recap:
https://youtu.be/3jjaecIR_tw?si=Tg8QtqkfS4J7-Sag
Conference Photo Albums:
https://blackandwhite77.pixieset.com/ubuntunetalliance/
PIN: 6782
Conference Details:
https://ubuntunet.net/uc2025/
Programme:
https://ubuntunet.net/ubuntunet-connect-programme-2025/