Ministers in charge of higher education from the eight East African Community (EAC) partner states have pledged to fast-track the creation of a Common Higher Education Area that will make it easier for students, professionals, and researchers to study and work across the region.
The commitments were made during the 1st Regional Ministerial Conference on the EAC Common Higher Education Area (EACHEA), held in Kampala from 9–11 September 2025, under the theme “Enhancing Regional Integration through Harmonised Higher Education Systems for Sustainable Development in East Africa.”
At the close of the meeting, the Ministers announced several landmark resolutions:
Full operationalisation of the EACHEA: Partner states will align national higher education systems with regional frameworks to ensure academic excellence and seamless mobility.
Mutual recognition of qualifications: By 2027, students and professionals will be able to use their academic and professional qualifications across all EAC countries.
Policy and legal harmonisation: By 2030, all national higher education laws and policies will be harmonised with EAC standards.
Digital transformation: Expansion of e-learning, blended learning, and responsible use of artificial intelligence in education will be prioritised.
Sustainable financing: Governments pledged to develop innovative funding models, including public–private partnerships, to boost access, mobility, and research.
Equity and inclusion: More support will be directed towards ensuring access for marginalised groups and promoting gender equality.
Student mobility: Visa fees for EAC students will be scrapped, and tuition fees will be harmonised so that students from partner states pay the same rates as local students, in local currency.
The conference resolved to meet every two years to track progress and share best practices. The next regional meeting will take place in Rwanda in 2027.
The Ministers also directed national higher education councils to coordinate with relevant authorities in each country to remove barriers affecting student mobility and enforce the agreed tuition fee policies.
The leaders expressed gratitude to the Government and People of Uganda for hosting the historic meeting and thanked the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), the Forum of CEOs of National Higher Education Commissions, and development partners for their coordination and support.
