HIGHER EDUCATION IN SSA: challenges and prospects

1. HIGHER EDUCATION IN SSA: challenges and prospects Wellington N. Ekaya RUFORUM Program Manager (Training & Quality Assurance) Learning Agrobiodiversity Workshop: 21-23 Jan 2009

2. OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION • Briefly about RUFORUM • Role of Higher Education in Africa • Capacity challenges in African Universities • Recent interventions/responses • Some opportunities • Lessons learnt

3. Genesis of RUFORUM • RUFORUM: Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture • Initiated in 1992 by the Rockefeller Foundation to enhance M.Sc level graduate training • Operated in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda and Zimbabwe • Transformed into RUFORUM in 2004, and in 2006 expanded to Zambia and Tanzania • Owned by a consortium of 12 (+13) Universities with a Secretariat located in Uganda

4. Objectives 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

5. 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

6. Role of Higher Education in SSA • HE is recognized as key to Africa’s economic growth and political development • HE plays a critical capacity and professional training role in support of all the MDGs • SA Council of HE: “The main determinant of poverty in Africa today is neither lack of natural resources nor geographical marginality, but rather the lack of appropriate human capital to produce added value, make use of technology and attract investments”

7. Role of Higher Education in SSA • In 2000, Kofi Annan argued:” The University must become a primary tool for Africa’s development in the new Century”. • East Asia economic growth (1990-1995) • India’s economic development

8. Capacity challenges in African Universities

9. Capacity challenges in African Universities • Curriculum 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 contribution 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

10. Capacity challenges in African Universities • Building managerial and leadership capacity and institutional reform for credible and relevant university 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 productivity of individuals and groups. • rigid attitude and mindset; lack of soft skills/personal mastery; weak negotiation skills; lack of self confidence.

11. Capacity challenges in African Universities • Developing and maintaining functional partnerships with private sector, farmers’ organizations, other service 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 publications • lack of trust and pride in our research findings and publications; weak skills for conducting high quality research

12. Capacity challenges in African Universities • Advocacy and fund raising to increase investment in Higher 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:

13. Recent interventions in African Universities: by RUFORUM

14. Recent interventions in African Universities: • RUFORUM commissioned a study in 2004: • Strengths and weaknesses of member Universities • Facilities and human resources/expertise • Networking and experiences • Outcome: Comparative advantage map • Regional Consultation: • What should we focus on in terms of capacity building? And how what approach • Consultation was informed by many years of MSc. Training under FORUM Program • Consensus: Regional PhD Program (with coursework)

15. 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

16. 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

17. What did it take, what is innovative? • Re-orientation workshop for faculty staff • Skills enhancement for students • Technical writing skills • Soft skill/personal mastery • Skills enhancement for staff • Proposal writing • E-content development • Team building • Effective supervision

18. 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

19. Other Interventions

20. Other Interventions: • Versatile Leadership and Management are crucial in catalysing responsiveness of Universities to: • Academic, research and development needs of a country • Many Universities in Africa have weak Leadership and Management systems.

21. Other Interventions: CCAU • FARA (2005): Most compelling weaknesses of the NARS are: • Management of institutional learning and adaptation • Financial Management • Strategic Planning and Visioning • Public Relations, lobbying and advocacy

22. CCAU: • Objective of CCAU: • To strengthen University Leadership and Management systems with competencies to deliver their roles effectively and efficiently • PICO team is leading the initiative • Inception meeting scheduled for 2-25 Feb 2009.

23. Other Interventions: • ERESA: Enhancing Research Skills in East and Southern Africa • QAM: Quality Assurance Mechanism in graduate training • AICM: Agricultural Information and Communication Management

24. Some Sources of Funding: • Edulink EU Programme • DelPHE Programme • Rockefeller Foundation • AAU -MRCI • EU FP-7 • BMGF

25. Key lessons: • “Africa has innovative success stories in higher education, which can inform future initiatives” • “Universities need to position themselves strategically to maximise use of opportunities”

26. Recognition /Incentives: • IMPRESSA Award • Women and Young Professionals in Science Competitions

27. THANK YOU FOR AUDIENCE For more details see www.ruforum.org