IMPACT HE at the 15th S-DHG Forum in Vienna: Communicating the Value of Higher Education Cooperation with the Global South to Decision Makers and Stakeholders

The IMPACT HE project, originally conceived as a concrete initiative of the Cooperation for Sustainable Development in Higher Education Group (S-DHG) Forum, has been presented as a successful example of ‘Team Europe inspiring and inspired’ approaches at this year’s Forum, which took place between 12–14 November 2025, in Vienna, Austria. This annual event brings together prominent agencies, international organisations and associations dedicated to supporting and funding higher education in international cooperation. The Forum serves as a space to share expertise, exchange experiences, enhance synergies among funding and implementing agencies, and foster new opportunities for joint action. Amongst its regular participants are the DAAD, VLIR-UOS (Flanders) and EDUFI (Finland), associated partners and steering committee members of IMPACT-HE. The coordinator of the project, Obreal, also participated in the Forum.

This year’s edition has focused on strengthening the narrative around the socio-economic relevance of cooperation, particularly in a context of budgetary pressure and geopolitical uncertainty. Discussions highlighted the need for a strong, evidence-based narrative capable of demonstrating the mutual benefits and long-term socio-economic value of cooperation within the different Souths.

Obreal, as IMPACT HE’s project coordinator, has showcased IMPACT HE (Capacity building for synergies, impact assessment and management of international higher education cooperation funds) as a concrete response to these challenges and as a practical instrument that helps demonstrate, communicate, and enhance the transformative value of international collaboration. The project was highlighted as:

A tool to channel international cooperation more effectively, generating coherence, alignment and local ownership;
A framework for deep Africa–Europe collaboration, co-designed with universities, ministries, and international agencies;
A Team Europe-inspired initiative demonstrating how collective action can lead to greater, more sustainable impact.

In this context, IMPACT HE demonstrates how impact can be generated, measured and communicated in ways that are context-sensitive and mutually beneficial. Its relevance to the S-DHG lies in its ability to:

Address shared priorities such as funding management, project ownership and impact communication in the Global Souths
Strengthen African leadership in project management and internationalisation
Provide replicable methodologies for other regions and programmes within the S-DHG network

Through strategic cooperation with ministries, universities and international agencies, IMPACT HE is paving the way for African institutions to take the lead in shaping policies, managing projects and driving sustainable development. The project now enters its second year, embarking on a hybrid training program for project management and impact assessment for the staff of partner universities in Africa and Kenya.