African Regional Networks for
Graduate Training and Research:
Focus of the last Meeting of the Working Group on Higher Education
(Ougadougou, Burkina Faso, November 3-5, 1998)
In the last twenty years, the capacities of a large number of African
universities to deliver sustained quality graduate training and research
have declined. This problem has been a central concern of the Working
Group on Higher Education (WGHE). In 1997, based on the belief that
this problem can be addressed through regional cooperation, WGHE decided
to support the Association of African Universities (AAU) in developing
concrete proposals for regional cooperation in graduate training and
research.
African Regional Networks for Graduate Training and Research
was the main theme of WGHE's last meeting which took place in Ouagadougou,
Burkina Faso, November 3-5, 1998. The meeting was planned as a joint
activity with the Association of African universities (AAU) and was
hosted by the Ouagadougou University (Université de Ougadougou).
Lessons learned from existing networking experiences
The meeting sought to build on the experience gained by development
partners in building regional networks and to apply this experience
to assess proposals for regional collaboration in Africa.
Four networking experiences were analyzed: the Inter-University Doctoral
Program in Economics (Programme de troisième cycle inter-universitaire
en économie - PCTI); the Association of Francophone Universities
(l'Agence universitaire de la francophonie -AUPELF-UREF), the
regional Postgraduate program in Water Resources Engineering, and the
German Working Group on Higher Education Cooperation with Developing
Countries. A number of valuable lessons were drawn from these experiences.
Good practices were highlighted as well as key factors of success. These
included:
- A common needs assessment involving all partners enables a shared
definition of problems and a joint understanding of the proposed solutions;
- Program services and products must respond to demonstrated demand
and local socio-economic realities, particularly job markets;
- Adequate management capacity must exist;
- Frequent communication and transparency in decision-making is necessary;
- Funding diversification should be part of the initial program design;
- Good marketing of the program is a necessary element of success;
- Qualified academic staff are also necessary to ensure the credibility
of the collaborative program;
- The use of new information and communication technologies as a means
of reducing intellectual dependency among universities in developing
countries was also stressed.
Proposals for regional collaboration
The major part of the meeting concentrated on discussing seven concrete
proposals for regional cooperation. Prior to the meeting, AAU had invited
its 148 member institutions to present proposals for regional cooperation
in graduate training and research. Some 41 proposals representing institutions
in 35 countries were received. Out of the 41 proposals, seven were selected
based on criteria emphasizing academic and scientific excellence, leadership,
demonstrated institutional support and sustainability. These seven proposals
were presented at the meeting for further consideration and support
by AAU/WGHE.
Three proposals were centered around South African universities. The
other proposals were centered around the University of Namibia, the
University of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), the University of Dakar (Senegal),
and the University of Science and Technology at Kumasi (Ghana). Areas
covered by the proposals concerned distance education, human rights,
scientific publication, accounting, energy systems, drought resistant
plants and environmental management. Donor representatives were invited
to share their views on the proposals.
Donor representatives were appreciative of the creativity and work
reflected in each proposal. However it was decided that further review
and discussion would be required by headquartes staff of these development
partners. The proposals are currently being revised and submitted to
development partners for funding consideration.
Other topics discussed
The meeting provided opportunities to learn about the University of
Ouagadougou's strategic development plan, to find out about AAU's evolving
activities and to be informed regarding several international initiatives
in the field of higher education.
The meeting closed by selecting a new theme for the coming two years:
New Technologies to Strengthen University Teaching and Learning Processes.
This will include virtual universities, on-line libraries, use of multi-media,
the relevance of new technologies to learning in large-size classes,
thematic networks and knowledge management, and distance learning (New
Technologies to Strengthen Tertiary Teaching and Learning Processes).
WGHE will meet again in Abuja, Nigeria, December 1-3, 1999.
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