SOAS and Wits University embrace equal partnership to deliver pioneering degree
The impact of climate breakdown, financialisation and the pandemic on wellbeing in Africa will be explored as part of a new PhD programme announced this week.
The 3-year joint PhD in Applied Development Economics will be delivered by the School of Economics & Finance at University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa in partnership with the Department of Economics at SOAS University of London.
The degree represents a major first step in SOAS plans to develop new partnership models that are more equitable with institutions across Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
It is also the first programme at SOAS to introduce a single fee structure for both domestic and international students.
SOAS aims to foster equitable partnerships through the co-development, co-delivery and co-accreditation of degree programmes, to enable centres of knowledge around the world to come together to address global challenges.
The virtual signing ceremony was led by Professor Adam Habib, Director of SOAS and Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice-Chancellor of Wits, with senior staff from SOAS and Wits including Professor Elisa Van Waeyenberge, the Head of College for Development, Economics and Finance at SOAS and Professor Jason Cohen, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce at Wits.
(Left to right: Kanina Foss, Dr Satoshi Miyamura, Prof Elisa Van Waeyenberge, Prof Adam Habib, Khadir Meer, Philip Ramge, Dr Ernest Caldwell, Hannah Qurashi)
Professor Habib said: “This collaboration with Wits aims to establish a partnership that is truly mutual and shared by both sides. This jointly conceived and developed programme straddles the north-south divide, in a way that brings knowledge systems together and positively and progressively disrupts higher education in the UK, and globally.”
(Left to right: Prof Ruksana Osman, Prof Zeblon Vilakazi; behind: Prof Frederik Booysen, Carol Crosley, Prof Brett Bowman, Dr Mahomed Moolla, Prof Jason Cohen, Prof Uma Kollamparambil, Prof Bruno Tinel)
Prof. Vilakazi said: “We celebrate this collaboration between colleagues across continents as we come closer to achieving an equitable partnership in an unequal world. This new partnership between our institutions sends a message to the world that we are committed to working together to push the boundaries of teaching to grow new global talent in an innovative, pioneering and more equitable way.”
Applications for the new joint PhD are now open. You can find out more on and apply on SOAS webpages here and Wits webpages here.
