higher education in ssa: challenges and prospects
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HIGHER EDUCATION IN SSA: challenges and prospects. Wellington N. Ekaya RUFORUM Program Manager (Training & Quality Assurance). Learning Agrobiodiversity Workshop: 21-23 Jan 2009. OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION. Briefly about RUFORUM Role of Higher Education in Africa - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
HIGHER EDUCATION IN SSA: challenges and prospects
Learning Agrobiodiversity Workshop: 21-23 Jan 2009
Wellington N. EkayaRUFORUM
Program Manager (Training & Quality Assurance)
OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION
Briefly about RUFORUM
Role of Higher Education in Africa
Capacity challenges in African Universities
Recent interventions/responses
Some opportunities
Lessons learnt
Genesis of RUFORUMGenesis of RUFORUM
RUFORUM: RUFORUM: Regional Universities Forum for Regional Universities Forum for
Capacity Building in AgricultureCapacity Building in Agriculture
Initiated in 1992 by the Rockefeller Foundation to Initiated in 1992 by the Rockefeller Foundation to
enhance M.Sc level graduate trainingenhance M.Sc level graduate training
Operated Operated in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda
and Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe
Transformed into RUFORUM in 2004, and in 2006 Transformed into RUFORUM in 2004, and in 2006
expanded to Zambia and Tanzania expanded to Zambia and Tanzania
Owned by a consortium of 12 (+13) Universities Owned by a consortium of 12 (+13) Universities
with a with a Secretariat located in Uganda Secretariat located in Uganda
Objectives of RUFORUMObjectives of RUFORUM Capacity building (MSc, PhD, Post-doctoral & short
courses)
Rationalized resource use for training & research
Innovative structures for training, research and outreach
Impact-oriented research in universities
Advocacy, coordination & resource mobilization
What we want to achieve
Build capacity for capacity development
Strengthen Innovation Capacity
Strengthen Africa’s contribution to global knowledge
Integrate universities in development process &
practice
Synergy and economies of scale
Role of Higher Education in Role of Higher Education in SSASSA
HE is recognized as key to Africa’s economic HE is recognized as key to Africa’s economic
growth and political developmentgrowth and political development
HE plays a critical capacity and professional HE plays a critical capacity and professional
training role in support of all the MDGstraining role in support of all the MDGs
SA Council of HE: “SA Council of HE: “The main determinant of The main determinant of
poverty in Africa today is neither lack of natural poverty in Africa today is neither lack of natural
resources nor geographical marginality, but rather resources nor geographical marginality, but rather
the lack of appropriate human capital to produce the lack of appropriate human capital to produce
added value, make use of technology and attract added value, make use of technology and attract
investments”investments”
Role of Higher Education in Role of Higher Education in SSASSA
In 2000, Kofi Annan argued:” In 2000, Kofi Annan argued:” The University must The University must
become a primary tool for Africa’s development in become a primary tool for Africa’s development in
the new Century”.the new Century”.
East Asia economic growth (1990-1995)East Asia economic growth (1990-1995)
India’s economic developmentIndia’s economic development
Capacity challenges in African Capacity challenges in African
UniversitiesUniversities
Capacity challenges in African Capacity challenges in African UniversitiesUniversities
Curriculum reform and delivery for relevanceCurriculum reform and delivery for relevance no training in pedagogy; curriculum review not a priority; few
practitioners among lecturers; inadequate tooling; curriculum
unrelated to current development agenda and changing academic
environment.
Developing approaches that enhance university Developing approaches that enhance university
contribution to national growth and developmentcontribution to national growth and development system skills not in curricular; weak understanding in innovation system
paradigm; conflict between basic and applied skills; inadequate
creativity/innovation; donor- driven research priorities
Capacity challenges in African Capacity challenges in African UniversitiesUniversities
Building managerial and leadership capacity and Building managerial and leadership capacity and
institutional reform for credible and relevant institutional reform for credible and relevant
university traininguniversity training
Lack of training in management skills; rigidity to change; failure to
manage change; misallocation of human resources; disconnect with
performance contracts.
Building cross-cutting professional skills to enhance Building cross-cutting professional skills to enhance
productivity of individuals and groups.productivity of individuals and groups. rigid attitude and mindset; lack of soft skills/personal mastery; weak
negotiation skills; lack of self confidence.
Capacity challenges in African Capacity challenges in African UniversitiesUniversities
Developing and maintaining functional partnerships Developing and maintaining functional partnerships
with private sector, farmers’ organizations, other with private sector, farmers’ organizations, other
service providers, universities abroadservice providers, universities abroad
limited networking skills; weak participatory approach in identifying end user needs, failure to collaborate with potential employers.
Building capacity for Africa-based high quality Building capacity for Africa-based high quality
publicationspublications lack of trust and pride in our research findings and publications; weak
skills for conducting high quality research
Capacity challenges in African Capacity challenges in African UniversitiesUniversities
Advocacy and fund raising to increase investment in Advocacy and fund raising to increase investment in
Higher EducationHigher Education
weak marketing skills; failure to influence policy change; poor
remuneration; limited financial capacity; weak initiatives to fund raise;
insufficient linkages with funding organizations
Institutional Egos:Institutional Egos:
Recent interventions in Recent interventions in
African Universities: by African Universities: by
RUFORUMRUFORUM
Recent interventions in African Recent interventions in African Universities:Universities:
RUFORUM commissioned a study in 2004:RUFORUM commissioned a study in 2004: Strengths and weaknesses of member Universities
Facilities and human resources/expertise
Networking and experiences
Outcome: Comparative advantage mapOutcome: Comparative advantage map
Regional Consultation:Regional Consultation: What should we focus on in terms of capacity building? And how what What should we focus on in terms of capacity building? And how what
approachapproach
Consultation was informed by many years of MSc. Training under FORUM Consultation was informed by many years of MSc. Training under FORUM
ProgramProgram
Consensus: Regional PhD Program (with Consensus: Regional PhD Program (with
coursework)coursework)
Regional PhD Programmes identified:
Dryland Resource Management
Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
Agricultural and Rural Innovations
Fisheries and Aquaculture
Food Science and Nutrition
Agricultural and Resource Economics
What did it take, what is innovative?
Defining true regionality of the programmes Addressing issues of regional importance
Consultative development of curricula
One University hosts the programme
Teaching and supervision
Knowledge centres involved (NARIs, CG Centres)
MoU among member Universities Involvement of Senior Managers’ commitment
What did it take, what is innovative?
Re-orientation workshop for faculty staff
Skills enhancement for studentsSkills enhancement for students Technical writing skills
Soft skill/personal mastery
Skills enhancement for staffSkills enhancement for staff Proposal writingProposal writing E-content developmentE-content development Team buildingTeam building Effective supervisionEffective supervision
What did it take, what is innovative?
South-North linkages PhD in Dryland Resource Management
PhD in Plant Breeding
Student mentoring / practical orientation Attachment to Senior Scientists Institutional links
Other Interventions
Other Interventions:
Versatile Leadership and Management are Versatile Leadership and Management are
crucial in catalysing responsiveness of crucial in catalysing responsiveness of
Universities to:Universities to:
Academic, research and development Academic, research and development
needs of a countryneeds of a country
Many Universities in Africa have weak Many Universities in Africa have weak
Leadership and Management systems.Leadership and Management systems.
Other Interventions: CCAU
FARA (2005): Most compelling weaknesses FARA (2005): Most compelling weaknesses
of the NARS are:of the NARS are:
Management of institutional learning and Management of institutional learning and
adaptationadaptation
Financial ManagementFinancial Management
Strategic Planning and VisioningStrategic Planning and Visioning
Public Relations, lobbying and advocacyPublic Relations, lobbying and advocacy
CCAU:
Objective of CCAU: Objective of CCAU:
To strengthen University Leadership and To strengthen University Leadership and
Management systems with competencies Management systems with competencies
to deliver their roles effectively and to deliver their roles effectively and
efficientlyefficiently
PICO team is leading the initiativePICO team is leading the initiative
Inception meeting scheduled for 2-25 Feb Inception meeting scheduled for 2-25 Feb
2009.2009.
Other Interventions:
ERESAERESA: : Enhancing Research Skills in East Enhancing Research Skills in East
and Southern Africaand Southern Africa
QAMQAM: : Quality Assurance Mechanism in Quality Assurance Mechanism in
graduate traininggraduate training
AICMAICM: : Agricultural Information and Agricultural Information and
Communication Management Communication Management
Some Sources of Funding:
Edulink EU ProgrammeEdulink EU Programme
DelPHE ProgrammeDelPHE Programme
Rockefeller FoundationRockefeller Foundation
AAU -MRCIAAU -MRCI
EU FP-7EU FP-7
BMGFBMGF
Key lessons:
““Africa has innovative success stories Africa has innovative success stories
in higher education, which can in higher education, which can
inform future initiatives”inform future initiatives”
““Universities need to position Universities need to position
themselves strategically to maximise themselves strategically to maximise
use of opportunities” use of opportunities”
Recognition /Incentives:
IMPRESSA AwardIMPRESSA Award
Women and Young Professionals in Science Women and Young Professionals in Science
CompetitionsCompetitions
THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR AUDIENCEAUDIENCE
For more details see www.ruforum.org For more details see www.ruforum.org