Murdoch University is leading an international collaboration bringing together universities across Australia, Ghana and Mauritius to strengthen climate resilience.

Murdoch University is leading an international collaboration bringing together universities across Australia, Ghana and Mauritius to strengthen climate resilience and help the higher education sector respond to one of the most pressing challenges of our time.

Supported by the Australia–Africa Universities Network (AAUN) Partnership and Research Development Fund (PRDF), the project — Building Innovative Capability and Climate Change Resilience in Higher Education Sectors in Australia and Africa — aims to build universities' capacity to respond to climate change while sharing knowledge and practical solutions across institutions and regions.

Project lead Dr Terri Trireksani, Head of Accounting and Finance at the Murdoch Business School, said the project seeks to better understand how universities are responding to climate change while identifying practical approaches that can be adapted across diverse higher education systems.

“Climate change is a global challenge that requires shared responsibility, collective action and international collaboration,” she said.

“Universities have a vital role in generating knowledge, developing practical solutions, and building the capability needed to create a more sustainable and resilient future. By learning from one another, universities can accelerate progress towards more resilient institutions and communities.”

As part of the project, Murdoch University recently hosted a seminar at its award-winning Boola Katijin precinct, bringing together higher education leaders, researchers and sustainability practitioners from Australia and Africa to share insights and practical approaches to climate resilience.

The seminar featured keynote presentations from Dr Roger Attwater, Director of Environmental Sustainability at Western Sydney University; Corey Peterson, Chief Sustainability Officer at the University of Tasmania; and Manfred Braune, Director of Environmental Sustainability at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Discussions highlighted several factors underpinning successful climate action in universities, including strong leadership and governance, sustainability embedded in institutional planning, investment in low-carbon infrastructure, integration of climate action into teaching and research, and collaboration with governments, industry and communities.

Murdoch University Deputy Vice Chancellor Education, Professor Don A. Klinger said universities have a unique responsibility to educate future leaders while demonstrating practical solutions to global challenges.

“Climate resilience is no longer a peripheral issue for universities. It is central to how we think about our responsibilities as educators, researchers, employers, campus operators and public institutions,” he said.

“Universities have a significant environmental footprint, but they also have an even greater capacity to influence society through education, research and partnerships.”

Murdoch University Pro Vice Chancellor of the College of Business, Antonia Girardi said universities have a unique responsibility to educate future leaders while demonstrating practical solutions to global challenges.

“Universities are not only centres of teaching and research; they are communities capable of demonstrating practical solutions to complex global challenges,” she said.

“Through education, research and partnerships, they can help shape a more sustainable future. Building resilience requires collaboration across disciplines, sectors and countries, and universities are well placed to lead those conversations.”

The project reflects Murdoch University's commitment to sustainability, international engagement and research that delivers meaningful real-world impact, while strengthening partnerships between Australian and African universities to address the shared challenges of climate change.

Building Innovative Capability and Climate Change Resilience in Higher Education Sectors in Australia and Africa is co-funded by the Australia–Africa Universities Network (AAUN) Partnership and Research Development Fund (PRDF) and Murdoch University.