Business research centre launches in partnership with Henley Africa

A new business research hub, which aims to optimise the engagement of African firms and governments in trade and investment, has launched this week.

The Dunning Africa Centre, a branch of the John H. Dunning Centre for International Business at Henley Business School, has been established to bring together the best and brightest minds in African business, academia and policymaking.

The research centre will collaborate with universities and business schools across the continent to address Africa-specific challenges regarding innovation, economic development and globalization.

The centre will offer short, intensive courses to help managers and policymakers across Africa to handle international business challenges, as well as gain a better understanding of the benefits of joining global value chains.

To mark the launch of the centre, the Dunning Africa Fellowship Scheme has also been created to enhance research capacity and forge stronger links between Henley’s Reading and South Africa campuses.

The inaugural recipient of the fellowship for 2021/22 is Aloysius Newenham-Kahindi, who is an Associate Professor at the Gustavson Business School in Canada, and is a research chair in International Sustainable Development.

Born in Tanzania and educated in Kenya, Dr Newenham-Kahindi’s research focuses on international business strategy of multinational firms, and sees Africa as a distinct market due to its political and institutional borders, cultural diversity and vibrant entrepreneurial growth.

Chair of the John H. Dunning Centre for International Business, Rajneesh Narula OBE said:

“This is an exciting addition to our research network, and further cements Henley’s presence in Africa. The continent will provide fertile scholarly context to develop new insights that go beyond many commonly held assumptions in international business theories, and has the potential to effect change and impact for business theory and practice around the world.”