Sustainable cross-border partnerships as academic diplomacy: A reflexive Europe–Africa case study

Djiby Anne; Lisbeth Clausen

doi:10.32674/00nzja78

Authors

Djiby Anne University Mohammed VI Polytechnic https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8865-7027
Lisbeth Clausen Copenhagen Business School (CBS), Denmark https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8958-7295

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/00nzja78

Keywords:

Academic diplomacy, cross-border collaboration, digital continuity, Europe–Africa partnerships, hybrid mobility, internationalization, knowledge co-production

Abstract

In the context of geopolitical tensions and accelerated digital transformation, cross-border partnerships increasingly play a key role in sustaining academic diplomacy through knowledge cocreation. While internationalization has traditionally focused on student mobility, limited attention has been given to individual initiatives and how these can evolve into sustainable research collaborations supported by hybrid mobility and digital mechanisms. This paper examines how an encounter during an International Teacher’s Program in 2022 in France led to multi-country collaboration and co-writing linking Denmark, Senegal, and Morocco. Drawing on a 2-year qualitative case study based on collaborative documentation, fieldwork in Senegal, reflective interviews among partners, and digital interaction archives, the study employs an inductive thematic analysis to identify enabling mechanisms of sustained cross-border cooperation. The results reveal four interrelated dimensions of sustainable academic diplomacy enabling collaboration across geographic and institutional transitions: (1) relational capital built through immersive mobility, (2) embedded mobility combining physical and contextual presence, (3) knowledge co-production grounded in local perspectives, and (4) digital continuity. This study proposes an evidence-based framework for global partnerships.

Author Biographies

Djiby Anne, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic

Djiby Anne is Academic Partnerships Manager at University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), Morocco, where he contributes to the development and operationalization of international academic partnerships and mobility initiatives. His work focuses on strengthening institutional collaboration, expanding global engagement, and supporting students in accessing transformative study-abroad opportunities.

He holds a PhD in Comparative and Anglophone African Literature and brings over 15 years of experience in higher education, combining teaching, academic leadership, and international development. Prior to joining UM6P, he spent eight years at Groupe Supdeco Dakar (Senegal), where he headed the Languages Institute and later the International Relations Office.

A Fulbright Visiting Scholar at the University of Iowa (USA) in 2024-2025 and Erasmus+ fellow at Pompeu Fabra University (Spain) in 2025, Dr. Anne has conducted research on American professional English and academic mobility across Francophone Africa. His work bridges pedagogical innovation, internationalization strategy, and academic collaborations within African and global higher education ecosystems.
Lisbeth Clausen, Copenhagen Business School (CBS), Denmark

Lisbeth Clausen is Associate Professor at Copenhagen Business School (CBS), Denmark, in the Department of Management, Society and Communication. An organizational and management scholar, she celebrates 25 years as a researcher and educator at CBS in 2025.

Her research focuses on entrepreneurship, culture, and sustainability, with particular attention to women entrepreneurs in the global circular economy. Through immersive ethnographic fieldwork across seven countries, her recent book Women Entrepreneurs in the Circular Economy: Global Experiences examines how women founders navigate cultural, structural, and resource constraints while driving sustainable innovation.

Professor Clausen’s work contributes to debates on inclusive entrepreneurship, internationalization, and responsible leadership. By bridging organizational research and real-world practice, she offers valuable insights into how higher education can support sustainable and globally connected entrepreneurial ecosystems.

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