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New Global Strategic Academic Advisor (Africa) appointed

12 December 2023

Julius Mugwagwa, Professor of Health Innovation and Public Policy at the UCL Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy, has been announced as UCL’s Global Strategic Academic Advisor (Africa).

Professor Julius Mugwagwa

Professor Julius Mugwagwa will commence his three-year appointment in January as Global Strategic Academic Advisor (Africa). In this part-time role, he will be responsible for providing academic expertise to develop UCL’s approach to engagement and collaboration with Africa, in light of relevant geo-political developments that present opportunities or challenges to UCL.

Professor Mugwagwa is Professor of Health Innovation and Public Policy in UCL's Department of Science, Technology Engineering and Public Policy (UCL STEaPP), and currently serves as the Global Health Thematic Director of UCL’s Global Governance Institute. This year, Professor Mugwagwa is mentoring the UCL cohort for Reach Alliance, a student-driven, faculty-mentored global research and leadership initiative founded at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy.

He has worked in veterinary research, pharmaceutical research and development and quality assurance and harmonisation of medicines regulatory systems in Africa. He is an accomplished scholar and published author in the areas of global health, health innovation and health system strengthening. He holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Biological Sciences, Biotechnology and Business Administration from the University of Zimbabwe, and a PhD in Technology (Biotechnology) Innovation and Regulation from The Open University in the UK.

As Global Strategic Academic Advisor (Africa), Professor Mugwagwa will work closely with UCL Global Engagement, UCL’s Pro-Vice-Provost (Global Engagement) Professor David Coen, UCL’s Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation and Global Engagement) Professor Geraint Rees and UCL’s other Global Strategic Academic Advisors (GSAAs): Dr Uta Staiger (Europe), Professor Monica Lakhanpaul (India), and Professor Katharine Carruthers (China).

Of his appointment, Professor Julius Mugwagwa said: "This is an important role in the Office of the UCL Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation & Global Engagement). There are many excellent collaborations already between UCL and different stakeholders in Africa to build on. I look forward to working with and learning from the GSSA’s for the other regions, and others in the wider university community, to consolidate and expand UCL’s research, teaching and innovation collaborations in and with African countries."

Professor David Coen said: “I warmly welcome Professor Mugwagwa to his new role as the Global Strategic Academic Advisor (Africa). This position is crucial for enhancing UCL's engagement across the continent, and I'm delighted that Professor Mugwagwa, with his wealth of insight and experience, has been appointed. I am very much looking forward to working with him to help to facilitate global alliances and to increasing UCL’s international profile and reputation in Africa.”

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