This paper presented at the AAU Conference of Rectors, Vice Chancellors and Presidents of African universities (COREVIP) examines African Higher Education institutions responding to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Up to recently higher education insitutions had done very little in terms of response to the pandemic. The central message of the paper is that higher education institutions must develop a comprehensive HIV prevention programme which runs through and drives issues such as HIV policy and strategy, development of culturally appropriate prevention messages amongst others.