Sudan’s Recovery Begins with the Recovery of Scientific Research… The 5th-Generation University as a Model

Dr Salwa Hassan Siddiq
The Ministry of Higher Education has initiated a timely opportunity by hosting a significant conference aimed at helping Sudan catch its breath, restore its footing, and recalibrate its trajectory in scientific research after the war. Sudan, as noted by Abdelmajid Ben Amara, Secretary-General of the Arab Union of Scientific Research Councils, has historically been proactive in supporting, participating in, and funding the Union’s activities. His in-person opening of the conference in Khartoum is, in itself, a noteworthy event.
The central idea of the conference revolves around redefining the role of universities globally, moving towards what is termed “fifth-generation universities.” This concept, also the title of one of the conference papers, is based on the premise that traditional education is no longer viable for today’s generations.
The shift is from passive learning to active participation, where students are no longer mere recipients of knowledge but essential partners in both idea generation and implementation. The rapid evolution of information access technologies has driven this transformation. In an age saturated with information, students no longer need knowledge transmitted to them; rather, they need to learn how to apply it safely, translate it into practice, and integrate it into policies, regulations, and quality-controlled systems.
All of this requires a secure and enabling environment—one embodied by universities, the rightful custodians of scientific research, safeguarded by generations of scholars, experts, and distinguished minds.
It is no surprise that the host institution is the International University of Africa. The university has a rich legacy and distinguished record in hosting such conferences and advancing Arab, African, and national agendas. It consistently contributes ideas, leadership, and capable students who translate vision into action.
Were it not for the ill-fated upheaval that first targeted the university, followed by the devastating war, it might well have become a leading global institution. At its peak, it hosted students from over seventy countries—an embodiment of a truly global university within a single campus.
I recall that in 2017, a conference on combating terrorism—organised under the auspices of the Arab League—was to be hosted by Sudan through the Ministry of Information. After consultations led by Undersecretary Abdel-Majid Haroun, there was unanimous agreement to select the International University of Africa, given its reputation for moderation and tolerance.
The conference revealed a fully integrated academic environment: research and knowledge flowed seamlessly from lecture halls, laboratories, farms, media studios, and training centres. The university’s quiet excellence struck participants—its ability to keep pace with global developments without fanfare. Remarkably, its capabilities already embodied the very principles of the “university of the future” that scholars are now striving to conceptualise.
The university had effectively implemented this model—knowledge in motion—evident in the training of media professionals ready for the labour market.
Perhaps even more remarkable was the social integration of its international students. They lived among Sudanese communities with ease and harmony. During Ramadan, communal tables stretched along the streets, offering hospitality to visitors. These students moved freely within neighbourhoods and public transport, shielded not by security measures but by shared values, knowledge, and lived experience.
They eventually returned to their home countries, carrying humility, tolerance, and the ethical grounding they had acquired in Sudan—often rising to positions of influence based on both merit and character.
We commend the university for its well-earned leadership, and the Ministry of Higher Education for convening this first in-person scientific conference after the war. The conference papers covered a wide range of critical themes, including artificial intelligence, capacity-building, and the future university—topics central to contemporary scientific inquiry and urgently needed in the face of current challenges.
If there is one key recommendation, it is for Sudanese universities and the Union to engage more deeply with successful experiences in other Arab countries—such as Algeria—as well as models where scientific research has been effectively translated into lived reality, as in Egypt. These are precisely the kinds of experiences Sudan needs in its post-war reconstruction.
Finally, my thanks to Dr Mohammed Khalifa, Professor of Media at the International University of Africa, who enabled me to attend part of the conference virtually. I look forward to more such engagements.
Sudan will be rebuilt by the ideas and efforts of its children—its sons and daughters.

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=13240