Collins Nweke Appointed President of International Research Scholars Association (IARSAC), Delaware, USA

Collins Nweke DFRA, PhD (hc), a senior international trade consultant, policy commentator, Economic Diplomacy researcher, and author based in Belgium, has been appointed President of the International Association of Research Scholars & Administrators Corporation (IARSAC), Delaware, United States.

The appointment, which took effect on 23 February 2026, was confirmed by the Board of Directors of IARSA Consortium following a selection process conducted in December 2025.

IARSAC is the United States unit of a global research consortium, the International Association of Research Scholars & Administrators (IARSA), committed to advancing research excellence, academic leadership, and cross-cultural collaboration among scholars and research administrators worldwide. Through its initiatives, the association promotes international research cooperation and strengthens networks connecting scholars, institutions, and policy communities.

In accepting the appointment, Dr. Nweke expressed appreciation for the confidence placed in him and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the association’s mission.

“I am honoured by the trust placed in me by the leadership of IARSAC. At a time when knowledge and research collaboration are essential to addressing global challenges, institutions like ours must play a stronger role in connecting ideas, institutions, and societies across borders.”

Dr. Nweke brings to the role extensive experience spanning public policy, international economic diplomacy, research collaboration, and diaspora engagement. He is also the author of the book Economic Diplomacy of the Diaspora, which explores the role of global diaspora communities in shaping international economic relations.

Under his leadership, IARSAC is expected to deepen its work in promoting international research cooperation, knowledge exchange, and institutional partnerships across Africa, Europe, and other regions of the world.

Presidential Vision Statement by Collins Nweke – Why Global Research Collaboration Matters More Than Ever

At a time when the world faces increasingly complex challenges—from climate change and technological disruption to geopolitical fragmentation and widening development gaps—one truth stands out clearly: no nation or institution can solve global problems alone.

Knowledge has always been humanity’s most powerful tool for progress. Yet knowledge reaches its full potential only when it is shared, tested, and enriched through collaboration across borders, disciplines, and cultures.

It is in this spirit that I accept the responsibility to serve as President of the International Association of Research Scholars & Administrators Corporation (IARSAC).

IARSAC stands for something both simple and profound: the belief that research excellence thrives in networks. By connecting scholars, administrators, and institutions from different parts of the world, we create ecosystems where ideas can travel freely, and innovation can flourish.

My vision for IARSAC during this period is guided by three priorities.

First, we must strengthen global research networks, ensuring that scholars from every region, including emerging knowledge hubs across Africa and the Global South, are fully integrated into international research conversations.

Second, we must promote knowledge diplomacy: the use of academic collaboration as a bridge between societies, cultures, and policy communities.

Third, we must support the translation of research into practical impact, ensuring that scholarship contributes meaningfully to solving real-world challenges.