U of G welcomed an East African delegation to campus Jan. 31. The high commissioners and ministers from Uganda and Kenya met with faculty and researchers and toured campus research facilities.

Their visit was part of Guelph East Africa (GEA), an ongoing initiative that includes establishing an institute in Tanzania to help solve regional problems. GEA’s website launched this week.

The institute will bring together academia, business, government and NGOs to support research and teaching in food, health, water, education, environment and community. Some issues facing East Africa include rising food prices, lack of reliable food and water, chronic diseases, climate change, pollution and urbanization.

The goal is to use U of G’s research and training strengths to improve the quality of people’s daily lives, says Kevin Hall, vice-president (research). The institute also aligns with Guelph’s strategic priorities of internationalism, humanitarianism and sustainability, he says.

Business professor Rumina Dhalla, who has lived in Tanzania and conducted research in East Africa, is heading up the initiative. Dhalla is part of the Centre for Sustainable Commerce in the College of Management and Economics.