Pitt Embraces Africa!

The Center for African Studies houses a matrix of ways to engage with Africa from home and on the continent. We provide resources, guidance, and networking opportunities for students, faculty, and staff across the university who aspire to engage with Africa and bring African knowledge into their scholarship and praxis. Pitt Embraces Africa builds on the Global Plan for Pitt, with the goal of taking Pitt to the world and bringing the world to Pitt; preparing and supporting globally minded students, faculty, and staff; ensuring global impact; and providing global operations support.

A key aspect of this initiative is developing and strengthening partnerships in Africa in places such as Senegal, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. Pitt has several interdisciplinary teams establishing research collaborations with institutions in these countries.

Vice Chancellor for Global Affairs and Director of the University Center for International Studies Ariel Armony is one of the initiative’s strongest supporters. Armony said, “Pitt Embraces Africa is a wonderful way to bring together all of the University’s work in and around the continent...We are launching some exciting partnerships and new opportunities for students. Embracing Africa is embracing the future, and I’m thrilled at current developments and even more excited for what’s to come.”

Ongoing Initiatives
Africa Business Initiative

The Africa Business Initiative, a collaboration of Pitt Business and the University’s Center for African Studies, provides opportunities for our students, faculty, and staff to connect with the world’s second largest continent through partnerships, fellowships, and global exchanges.

Cultural Preservation Through Virtual Reality

In recent years immersive media technologies (IMT) such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), extended/mixed reality (XR) have moved from the realm of toys for early adopters into the realm of ubiquitous, widely used technologies.

eLearning Training for Cancer Awareness and Competency among Healthcare Practitioners in Nigeria

Dr. Abimbola (Abi) Fapohunda is working with the Lakeshore Cancer Center in Lagos, Nigeria in a partnership to assess and improve cancer screening for patients.

International Research on Non-communicable Diseases

During a one-week trip to Dakar, Senegal in May 2023, an interdisciplinary team of eight Pitt faculty and staff engaged and collaborated with colleagues from the West African Research Center and the University Cheikh Anto Diop (UCAD).

Manufacturing Assistance Center

Dr. Bopaya Bidanda is the Ernest Roth Professor in the Swanson School of Engineering. He is the founder and lead partner of the Manufacturing Assistance Center program, which trains students and community members for careers in manufacturing at little to no cost to those who participate.

The Global TEACH Project

This student-led initiative puts them at the forefront of international learning, developing real-world solutions to enhance cancer awareness and health outcomes.