The Association of Commonwealth Universities at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2022

Following two postponements, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2022 returns on 20-25 June 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda.

Leaders of Commonwealth countries meet every two years for CHOGM, hosted by different member countries on a rotating basis. Since 1971, a total of 24 meetings have been held, with the most recent being in the UK in 2018.

CHOGM brings together delegations from 54 nations from Africa, the Caribbean and Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific to reinforce multilateral cooperation, explore new opportunities, and tackle common challenges for the well-being of future generations.

As an accredited organisation, the ACU will is sending a delegation to CHOGM where we will be championing higher education’s critical contribution to sustainable development, outlining policy priorities for higher education, and shaping the agenda on behalf of our members across the Commonwealth.

The week of events at CHOGM will include high-level meetings of Commonwealth leaders followed by four stakeholder forums, ministerial meetings, side events and other activities that the ACU will participate in. Full details on the ACU contributions at CHOGM and how to get involved are below. 

ACU contributions 

Commonwealth Youth Forum launch of youth-led initiatives - The Commonwealth Youth for Sustainable Urbanisation and Sustainable and Clean Energy Action Group: 19 June | 16:00-16:30 CAT

Our Chief Executive Dr Joanna Newman will speak at the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative youth group launch at the Commonwealth Youth Forum in Kigali.

ACU evening reception & launch of the Partnership for Enhanced and Blended Learning (PEBL) West Africa project: 20 June | 18:00-20:00 CAT

The ACU will host an evening reception and launch of the Partnership for Enhanced and Blended Learning (PEBL) West Africa project, funded by the Australian Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). In the week of the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting, this in-person ACU event will be an opportunity to bring together ACU members, our partners, scholars and alumni in the region to celebrate how higher education is contributing to sustainable development.

Commonwealth Youth Forum Plenary four - co-creation and strategic partnership: 20 June | 13:15 – 14:30 CAT

ACU Chief Executive Dr Joanna Newman will join this panel session at the Commonwealth Youth Forum 2022 in Kigali. The session will include a keynote address, sharing of stories of impact, and a panel of experts, change makers and influencers who will provide tips and insights to identifying and forming strategic partnerships required to take projects and ideas forward.

Commonwealth Sustainable Cities official side event - Closing the gaps: addressing the capacity gap panel discussion: 21 June | 15:45-17:30 CAT

The recent surveys and consultations that led to the Call to Action for Sustainable Urbanisation across the Commonwealth highlight a critical lack of professional and leadership capacity in many of the Commonwealth countries which are urbanising most rapidly and are among the most vulnerable to climate change impact. In this session moderated by ACU Chief Executive Dr Joanna Newman, participants will be invited to consider the different ways in which Commonwealth partners can come together to address the capacity gap. The session will cover understanding and addressing capacity gaps, enabling policy and legislation, institutional and professional development, strengthening career opportunities, training and skills development; and a focus on the changes and partnerships required to enable cities to deliver.

Commonwealth Business Forum session - Positioning the Commonwealth for the future of work: 21 June | 14:00-15:30 

ACU Chief Executive Dr Joanna Newman will chair a panel session exploring the future of work and skills at the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF 2022) in Kigali. CBF 2022 will be the first and largest in-person gathering for Governments and Business across the Commonwealth since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commonwealth Futures strengthening the contribution of research to climate change mitigation and adaptation workshop: 22 June | 8:00-8:45 CAT

This workshop will be held by the ACU at the Commonwealth People’s Forum 2022 in Kigali. The session will be practical and audience-participatory and focus on enhancing our understanding of current priorities for research in relation to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Through participating in this workshop, attendees will be directly contributing to the shaping of programmatic interventions designed to strengthen research in this area. If you have any questions, please contact Oluwaseyi.Akinnirun@acu.ac.uk.

Foreign Ministers Roundtable: 25 June | 10:00-13:00 CAT

Our Chief Executive Dr Joanna Newman will present at a Commonwealth Foreign Ministers roundtable at CHOGM, where she will outline higher education’s critical contribution to sustainable development and policy priorities for higher education.