DUCAS (Dalarna University Centre for African Studies)

Dalarna University Centre for African Studies, established in 2004, is part of the School of Education and Humanities. DUCAS has two principal objectives. The first objective is to create conditions for the promotion of African Studies in Sweden and the European Union. The academic partners of DUCAS are the Universities of Bologna and Pavia (Italy) and Oulu (Finland). DUCAS collaborates actively with the Nordic Africa Institute.

The second objective is to mobilise support and enhance awareness about Africa and African issues in the region of Dalarna where our University is located.

Courses Offered

Currently, DUCAS offers Master Courses in African Studies – a programme developed together with the Universities of Bologna and Oulu. See top page for more information on the Master Courses.

Africa Days at Dalarna University

Since 2006 DUCAS has annually been hosting Africa Days at Dalarna University for invited guest lecturers from the African Studies partneruniversties in Europe and Africa, students of the African Studies Master Programme and the interested public in Dalarna and Sweden.

The aims of DUCAS are as follows

• To provide high quality postgraduate courses on African Studies
• To promote interest and awareness of African issues in Dalarna
• To organise workshops, symposia and conferences on African Studies
• To provide a forum for researchers
• To work closely with other institutions and centres so as to broaden interest on African Studies

The organisational structure for DUCAS

The DUCAS Advisory board, senior scholars representing the DUCAS founding institutions (Universities of Bologna, Oulu and Dalarna), is appointed to advise the Director, to assist in long term planning of strategies and policies and to oversee academic excellence in DUCAS activities such as the running of the Master Programme in African Studies.

DUCAS has a Director and an Administrative officer (vacant from January 2012).