Enhancing Global engagement Competence

Africa Asia Collaboration Challenges, Opportunities, Prospects: Experience of a Leading African University

Part I

PresentersBola Udegbe

Paul Oghinan

Aderonke Oni

Office of International Programmes,

University of Ibadan, Nigeria

www.ui.edu.ng

Overview There has been a dramatic increase in Asian investments and

businesses in Africa

- involved in many sectors and many African

countries

Collaboration in terms of Higher Education is minimal

Significant improvement in quality of Asian Higher Education sector

Consequences: engagement in a milieu of low levels understanding/knowledge, tolerance, respect and mutual advantage/learning

How do institutions that traditionally have little collaboration tap into the new trend in African-Asian economic engagement for the mutual benefit of both continents?

African Higher Education is at the heart of development of Africa

Revitalization of Higher Education is a crucial goal

The first continental summit of the first African higher Education occurred in Dakar Senegal, from March 11-12, 2015.

The set the stage for development of decisions and actions points which have implications for transforming higher education in Africa.

IntroductionEmphasis has been on

Africa a destination for

• new investments/ business

opportunities particularly by Asian

countries such as China, Korea, India

• development assistance, Japan

• recruiting students to increase the

international profile of universities

• scholarship/grants

Introduction

Minimal levels- Institutional level

collaboration- Individual Scholar

level collaboration arising from low

levels of exposure, networking, faculty/staff

exchange, , joint curriculum

development, etc.

Some AHE summit highlights on internationalization (1)

Research Internationalization is one of the indispensable points for boosting the scientific power of Africa’s research universities. But most universities do not have clear policies and strategies on managing international cooperation, and in the rush to embrace engagement they run the risk of prioritizing quick gains and income generation rather than sustainability and qualityInternational cooperation – Boosting African research, Robert Tijssen, University World News, Africa Edition, 08 March 2015, Issue 147

Three priorities that should guide the revitalization of universities in

Africa

-strong data and

-better-prepared students.

-partnerships

Kofi Annan, Keynote address; Higher Education and Africa’s Socio-political progress, University World News, Africa Edition, 15 March 2015, Issue 148

How can we strengthen African-Asian higher education partnership for mutual growth?Based on the experience of a leading university in one of Africa’s strongest countries, what are challenges, opportunities and prospects?

Part IIPaul Oghinan

Conclusion Give the strengths that exist in both Higher Education of both continents,

there are several prospects including

- Innovative strategies that fosters capacities for mutual understanding and learning

- Research collaboration on global challenges of mutual interest

- Bilateral, multilateral regional networking between and among universities

- Development of curriculum/ programmes to enhance mutual understanding

- Debates/ discourse to inform policies/actions by government and industry

- Faculty/student exchange

- Thematic projects

- Joint/dual degree

- Area studies