Thabo Mbeki African School of Public Affairs

Thabo Mbeki African School of Public Affairs
Name	Thabo Mbeki African School of Public Affairs
Established	2017
Type	Graduate school
City	Johannesburg
Country	South Africa
Parent	University of Johannesburg

Thabo Mbeki African School of Public Affairs is a postgraduate institution located in Johannesburg, South Africa, focused on public policy, diplomacy, and governance studies. Founded within a major urban university, the school engages with continental networks, regional institutions, and international partners to influence policymaking, leadership training, and research relevant to African development. Its work intersects with prominent figures, agencies, and multilateral bodies involved in African integration, peacebuilding, and economic planning.

History

The school was created amid post-apartheid institutional reforms and continental initiatives influenced by personalities and entities such as Thabo Mbeki, Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan, African Union, New Partnership for Africa's Development, and United Nations programs. Its foundation drew on collaborations with institutions like University of Johannesburg, University of Cape Town, University of the Witwatersrand, Stellenbosch University, and Makerere University, while also responding to regional pressures from Southern African Development Community, East African Community, Economic Community of West African States, and Economic Community of Central African States. Early curricula referenced policy frameworks from African Development Bank, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, United Nations Development Programme, and inputs from think tanks such as Institute for Security Studies, Council on Foreign Relations, Chatham House, and Brookings Institution.

Mission and Objectives

The school's mission echoes continental agendas like Agenda 2063, Sustainable Development Goals, and mandates from African Peer Review Mechanism to cultivate public servants, diplomats, researchers, and civic leaders. Objectives include capacity building aligned with New Partnership for Africa's Development goals, strengthening ties to Pan African Parliament, supporting African Continental Free Trade Area, and informing policy debates on topics linked to BRICS, G20, Commonwealth of Nations, and Non-Aligned Movement. The institution aims to prepare cohorts to engage with bodies such as United Nations Security Council, International Criminal Court, African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, and agencies like World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization.

Academic Programs

Degree offerings encompass master's and doctoral programs drawing on comparative case studies from South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia', Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, DR Congo, Sudan, and Libya. Specialized streams examine policy issues related to institutions like African Union Commission, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, African Union Development Agency, and World Trade Organization. Visiting faculty and guest lecturers have included practitioners from South African Presidency, Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation (South Africa), Department of Trade and Industry (South Africa), former commissioners from African Union, diplomats posted to Embassy of Japan in South Africa, United States Embassy in South Africa, British High Commission, and leaders connected to SADC Tribunal and African Peer Review Mechanism processes. Coursework references casework from Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa), Rwanda Tribunal, Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and negotiations such as Cotonou Agreement.

Research and Policy Centers

Research units engage on themes linked to peacekeeping operations led by United Nations Mission in South Sudan, African Union Mission in Somalia, and draw on conflict resolution lessons from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali, and Central African Republic. Centers publish analyses relevant to African Development Bank Group projects, International Monetary Fund programs, and World Bank country strategies. The school hosts policy labs partnering with Human Sciences Research Council, Institute for Security Studies, African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes, Centre for Conflict Resolution, and NGOs including Oxfam, Amnesty International, and Transparency International. Thematic hubs study elections and governance with reference to Independent Electoral Commission (South Africa), Electoral Commission of Ghana, and observer missions from Commonwealth Observer Group and African Union Election Observation Mission.

Governance and Leadership

Governance structures align with university statutes and include boards featuring academics, former ministers, and diplomats connected to Thabo Mbeki, Kgalema Motlanthe, Pallo Jordan, and figures linked to ANC, Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, and civil society leaders from South African Council of Churches, Black Sash, and Treatment Action Campaign. Leadership teams coordinate with municipal authorities such as City of Johannesburg and provincial departments including Gauteng Provincial Government. Advisory councils have drawn representation from international bodies like United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, United Nations Development Programme, and private sector partners including Standard Bank, Old Mutual, MTN Group, and Shoprite Holdings.

Partnerships and Collaborations

The school maintains partnerships with universities across Africa and globally, including Harvard Kennedy School, London School of Economics, Sciences Po, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Columbia University, Princeton University, Yale University, University of Toronto, University of Melbourne, University of Nairobi, University of Ibadan, Addis Ababa University, and regional research networks such as African Research Universities Alliance. Collaborative projects involve multilateral agencies like United Nations Children's Fund, World Health Organization, United Nations Environment Programme, and donor organizations such as Norad, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, United States Agency for International Development, and European Union. Exchange programs engage diplomatic services including Foreign and Commonwealth Office, United States Department of State, and bilateral missions across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Americas.

Campus and Facilities

Located in an urban campus proximate to nodes such as Soweto, Sandton, Braamfontein, and Rosebank, facilities include lecture theatres, simulation labs for Model United Nations and negotiation training, archives referencing documents from Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa), and libraries with collections related to African Studies Centre Leiden, Institute of Development Studies, and major repositories like National Library of South Africa. The campus supports student organizations modeled on networks such as African Students Association, professional clubs aligned with Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, and career services interfacing with employers like African Development Bank, United Nations, World Bank Group, African Union, and national public services.

Category:Universities in Johannesburg