The tremendous increase in contacts that has taken place in recent years between African universities and universities in Europe and America has thrown up a number of common problems in the fields of joint research schemes and recruitment. It was to discuss these problems that the Centre of African Studies, Edinburgh University, in association with the U.K. Ministry of Overseas Development, convened a conference, attended by about 100 delegates, representing British universities (mainly from Scotland and the north of England), the Ministry of Overseas Development, and universities in English-speaking African countries.