Kigali Knowledge Crossroads Week
Education in motion. Research in action.
Not a conference. A catalytic moment.
In October 2027, GCUB and its member institutions gather in Kigali for their General Assembly — and around it, GPS convenes its flagship global gathering: universities, policymakers, public institutions, entrepreneurs, artists, and civil society from five continents.
The Week is deliberately designed as an action-oriented platform where research informs policy, education responds to societal needs, ideas become actionable solutions, and partnerships generate measurable social and economic impact.
At a time when education systems, labor markets, emerging technologies — especially AI — and global power relations are being reshaped, the Crossroads responds to an urgent need: realigning learning, research, and public action.
Knowledge should function as a social contract — linking universities to society, research to decision-making, education to community aspirations.
Three components, one architecture.
GCUB General Assembly
A strategic forum for presidents, rectors, and institutional leaders — governance, planning, mobility, and international cooperation. Dedicated page
Multisectoral International Conference
Researchers, private-sector actors, Indigenous knowledge holders, policymakers, and artists. Academic papers peer-reviewed; other contributions expert-curated.
The Crossroads Platform
Thematic panels and workshops · policy dialogues and university–government roundtables · education reform sessions · entrepreneurship and innovation forums · partnership meetings and MoU signings · youth engagement · exhibitions and cultural programming.
Five thematic tracks.
From Knowledge → Education & Methods → Policy → Partnerships → Impact.
Pedagogy & Curriculum Development
Transforming education for lived realities and future societies — experiential learning, critical thinking, and curricula connected to real-world problem-solving.
Technology & Digital Innovation
Reconfiguring knowledge ecosystems in the digital age — AI and emerging technologies in education and research, inclusive and ethical by design.
Epistemology & Knowledge Systems
Plural knowledge systems — indigenous, endogenous, and global epistemologies, toward more balanced global knowledge architectures.
Applied, Impactful Teaching & Research
Research for societal challenges — transdisciplinary innovation labs, social sciences in action, and frameworks for measuring social impact.
Research Funding & Resource Mobilization
Knowledge partnerships connecting universities, policy, and society — sustainable financing for research and innovation ecosystems.
Expected outputs.
Policy briefs & advisory notes
Research-to-policy pathways and structured university–government dialogue.
Partnership agreements & MoUs
Academic mobility, joint supervision, tuition cooperation, pilot mobility schemes.
Joint programs & research consortia
Thematic consortia, co-authored publications, applied research outputs.
Curriculum & pedagogical innovation
Co-developed curricula and experiential learning models with shared pilots.
Innovation partnerships
Startup support, incubation initiatives, and investment-ready research projects.
Coordination & impact tracking
Year-round follow-through with voluntary progress-sharing after the Week.
Convened with
Built around the GCUB General Assembly, with institutional partners confirmed through 2026–27.
Grupo de Cooperação Internacional de Universidades Brasileiras — General Assembly host network.
Kigali host venues and national partners.
Delegations from associations and member universities.
From the road to Kigali
GPS and GCUB align on Kigali 2027
The General Assembly and the Crossroads Week will run as one integrated gathering.
Thematic working groups forming
Scientific committees and track chairs are being convened across the five tracks.
Venue and dates confirmation ahead
Final venue announcement and registration timeline expected late 2026.
Be in the room in October 2027.
University leaders, researchers, policymakers, founders, artists, funders — register interest now and we'll write when registration opens.