Regional Office for Africa - III | 2011 nairobi newsletter · 2012-07-19 · 3 nairobi newsletter -...

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nairobi newsletter Regional Office for Africa - III | 2011 In this issue President of the East African Community launches joint East African Quality Assurance Handbook Award of scholarships by the German Ambas- sador and the Assistant Minister for Higher Education Forum of Academic Vice Rectors and Directors of Quality Assurance Dis- cuss on Guidelines for the Upcoming Three Years The art of writing scien- tific proposals trained by DAAD DAAD PhD Scholarship holders attend the first preparatory German language course at Goethe-Institut Nairobi. The Kenya DIES-REAL- Alumni Network organises training for Constituent Colleges Professor Margret Wintermantel elected new DAAD President A new head for DAAD Ref. 413 Sub-Saharan Africa Farewell to Dr. Tilo Weber Editorial DAAD Regional Office for Africa P.O.Box 14050-00800 Nairobi, Kenya nairobi.daad.de Director: Christoph Hansert Editor: Bonface K. Nyagah and Anja Bengelstorff Contact: +254 733 929 929 President of the East African Community launches joint East African Quality Assurance Handbook On March 30th, 2011, Pierra Nkurunziza, the President of Burundi and Chairman of the Heads of State of the East African Community (EAC), launched the Handbook on Quality Assurance which was developed jointly by IUCEA, DAAD and the German Rectors‘ Conference (HRK) in the Burundian capital Bujumbura during the Annual General Meeting of the Inter-University Council of East Africa (IUCEA). The president of the International Network of Quality Assurance Agencies was present when IUCEA, DAAD and HRK dedicated a part of the event to quality assurance at East African universities. Since 2006, the partners cooperate within the framework of a DIES project to establish a Regional Quality Assurance System in universities in East Africa. An outcome of this collaboration is the Handbook on self-evaluation of study programmes which was developed by a team of African and European experts. The success of the „‟Roadmap to Quality‟‟ is impressive: Since the start of the project 50 programmes in East African universities have been evaluated within the framework of the DIES project. More information under: http://www.daad.de/entwicklung/hochschulmanagement/massnahmen/projekte/08048.en.html

Transcript of Regional Office for Africa - III | 2011 nairobi newsletter · 2012-07-19 · 3 nairobi newsletter -...

Page 1: Regional Office for Africa - III | 2011 nairobi newsletter · 2012-07-19 · 3 nairobi newsletter - III | 2011 In the weeks up to the second part of the workshop on June 9, participants

nairobi newsletter

Regional Office for Africa - III | 2011

In this issue

President of the East

African Community launches joint East African Quality Assurance Handbook

Award of scholarships

by the German Ambas-sador and the Assistant Minister for Higher Education

Forum of Academic Vice

Rectors and Directors of Quality Assurance Dis-cuss on Guidelines for the Upcoming Three Years

The art of writing scien-

tific proposals – trained by DAAD

DAAD PhD Scholarship

holders attend the first preparatory German language course at Goethe-Institut Nairobi.

The Kenya DIES-REAL-

Alumni Network organises training for Constituent Colleges

Professor Margret

Wintermantel elected new DAAD President

A new head for DAAD

Ref. 413 Sub-Saharan Africa

Farewell to Dr. Tilo

Weber

Editorial

DAAD

Regional Office for Africa

P.O.Box 14050-00800

Nairobi, Kenya

nairobi.daad.de

Director:

Christoph Hansert

Editor:

Bonface K. Nyagah and

Anja Bengelstorff

Contact:

+254 733 929 929

President of the East African Community launches joint

East African Quality Assurance Handbook

On March 30th, 2011, Pierra Nkurunziza, the President of Burundi and Chairman of the

Heads of State of the East African Community (EAC), launched the Handbook on Quality

Assurance which was developed jointly by IUCEA, DAAD and the German Rectors‘

Conference (HRK) in the Burundian capital Bujumbura during the Annual General

Meeting of the Inter-University Council of East Africa (IUCEA).

The president of the International Network of Quality Assurance Agencies was present when

IUCEA, DAAD and HRK dedicated a part of the event to quality assurance at East African

universities. Since 2006, the partners cooperate within the framework of a DIES project to

establish a Regional Quality Assurance System in universities in East Africa. An outcome of this

collaboration is the Handbook on self-evaluation of study programmes which was developed by

a team of African and European experts. The success of the „‟Roadmap to Quality‟‟ is

impressive: Since the start of the project 50 programmes in East African universities have been

evaluated within the framework of the DIES project. More information under:

http://www.daad.de/entwicklung/hochschulmanagement/massnahmen/projekte/08048.en.html

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First Scholarships of Joint Kenyan Government - DAAD Scholarship Programme handed over

by the German Ambassador,

the Assistant Minister of Higher Education, the CEO of NCST and DAAD Representatives from Bonn and Nairobi

On April 1st the DAAD Regional Office for Africa together

with DAAD Lecturers and DAAD Alumni held the first

national Scholarship Holder Meeting in Kenya, partly

attended by Her Excellency, the Ambassador of Ger-

many to Kenya, Mrs. Hellwig-Boette, the Assistant Minis-

ter for Higher Education, Science and Technology, Dr.

Kilemi Mweria, the CEO of the National Council for Sci-

ence and Technology, Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, and

the Director for Development Cooperation and Alumni

Programmes of DAAD Bonn, Dr. Anette Pieper de Avila.

Part of the full-day event was a training session for 3rd

year In-country PhD Scholars on how to come up with a

good scientific poster. 2nd

year Master students were

instructed on how to use E-libraries and E-resources.

The new scholarship holders, who in the meantime left

for Germany, received an intercultural introduction to

Germany.

In the afternoon, the Symposium “SMOKE: Science

Meets Art” took place with interesting talks on the topic

and the pre-opening of the SMOKE ART Exhibition on

the roof of the Laico Regency Hotel.

In the evening, the first scholarships of the new Kenya-

German postgraduate training programme as well as

DAAD scholarships 2011 to Germany were awarded in a

ceremonial act, accompanied by music from the Ka-

yamba roots band and followed by an open-air recep-

tion.

The art of writing scientific proposals –

trained by DAAD

Writing a scholarship award winning PhD proposal

seems to become more and more of a challenge. To

prepare potential DAAD scholarship applicants who want

to pursue a PhD degree at a university in Germany, the

DAAD Office Nairobi just completed the third PhD Pro-

posal Writing Workshop in Nairobi, Kenya. With the dedi-

cated commitment of our Kenya Alumni and the gener-

ous technical support of ICIPE, we were able to train

about 60 participants, who secured a place in the first

part of the workshop which took place on April, 28.

On this first out of two training days, the young scholars

were introduced to the logic of proposal writing, the gen-

eral structure and requirements of this document whose

quality is a crucial criteria for the scholarship award deci-

sion. For the second part of the day, the scientists split

up into six working groups according to their scientific

field where they were trained on a more individual basis

on the specific proposal writing required in their disci-

pline.

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In the weeks up to the second part of the workshop on

June 9, participants had the opportunity to improve their

proposals and send them to their respective trainers for

feedback. About half of the original number of trainees

were invited again to conduct mock interviews, very simi-

lar to the interviews DAAD conducts for PhD scholarship

applications. Each participant acted at some point as

both interviewee and interviewer.

The organizing team consisting of DAAD Alumni and

Nairobi Programme Officer Anja Bengelstorff were im-

pressed by the willingness of participants to share their

knowledge, experiences and recommendations with their

fellow upcoming researchers. It is encouraging to ob-

serve that they obviously consider themselves as part of

a scientific community which can only grow with mutual

support. Besides this impressive attitude expressed by

our future DAAD scholars, we are confidently looking

forward to a great number of promising scholarship ap-

plications in 2011.

Forum of Academic Vice Rectors and Direc-tors of Quality Assurance Discuss on Guidelines for the Upcoming Three Years

The first phase of the quality assurance initiative in

East Africa has been concluded. In May 140 partici-

pants from more than 50 universities and national

regulatory bodies in East Africa discussed the con-

sequences resulting from 50 programme evaluations

conducted at East African universities in the context

of the DIES-Quality Assurance Project in East Africa

from 2007-2010.

The conference was opened by a welcome address of

the DAAD alumnus and Deputy Minister of the Kenyan

Higher Education Ministry, Professor Harry Kaane.

The overall aim of the joint DIES initiative by Inter-

University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), DAAD und

HRK has been to support the East African partner to set

up a regional quality assurance system and particularly

to modernise and increase the relevance of university

curricula.

It was concluded that during the upcoming project

phase special emphasis shall be placed on the inclu-

sion of non-university stakeholders, such as profes-

sional associations and alumni. Successful change

management projects and best practice examples in

quality assurance shall be regularly regularly dis-

cussed in national forums as well as in the alumni por-

tal Germany. Trained QA experts from East Africa will

play a major role for future trainings on site.

In a subsequent workshop the participants were in-

formed on the possibilities how to benefit from the

DAAD programmes, as well as from the European

Union EDULINK programme to support the realization

of action plans which resulted from the evaluations

within the DIES initiative.

The East African-German initiative on quality assur-

ance is part of the DAAD DIES programme. The pro-

gramme “Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education

Strategies" (DIES) supports universities in developing

countries to evolve strategies which enables them to

improve the quality and relevance of their training of-

fers. The DIES programme is coordinated jointly with

the German Rectors‟ Conference (HRK).

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DAAD PhD Scholarship holders attend the first preparatory German language course at Goethe-Institut Nairobi.

By Irene Bibi

From April 4th to May 31st, 2011 eleven DAAD schol-

ars from various universities in Kenya attended an in-

troductory and intensive German language course at

Goethe-Institut, the German Cultural Centre in Nairobi.

Barely two hours into the course, the scholars had al-

ready learned how to introduce themselves in German.

This enthusiasm for the German language and culture

characterized the 2-month course that saw the scholars

reach level A2.1 and pass the international level A1

“Start Deutsch 1” exam. To guide them through this

exciting journey of discovering the German language

and culture were our long-serving, very dedicated and

experienced teachers Judy Thirimu und Lilian Omedi.

Once a week, the DAAD office availed additional infor-

mation on day-to-day life in Germany.

The morning session was devoted to learning of new

structures, the afternoon for internalizing these struc-

tures through interactive media such as language

games, films, online exercises, vocabulary cards etc.

This proved that German can also be learnt in a fun

way. Therefore, it came as no surprise that all scholar-

ship holders passed the exam. With this confidence

they departed for Germany shortly after the exam.

Culture shock? No way!

As one scholar said during the farewell function: “I

have not only learnt German but have also changed

as a person. I have learnt to understand myself and

others better. Thank you DAAD, thank you Goethe-

Institut, and very special thanks to my teachers for

making this possible!”

Irene Bibi is Head of Language Courses and Exami-

nations of the Goethe-Institut Nairobi

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The Kenya DIES-REAL-Alumni Network

organises training for Leaders of

Constituent Colleges

in cooperation with DAAD Nairobi,

CHE and NCST

By Hamadi Iddi Boga

The Kenyan Chapter of the DIES-REAL Alumni net-

work partnered with the University of Kassel, Univer-

sity of Duisburg-Essen, the DAAD, the Commission

for Higher Education (CHE) and the National Council

for Science and Technology (NCST) to conduct a

three day management workshop from 19th to 21

st

May 2011 at the Kenyatta University Conference Cen-

tre.

The target group consisted of Principals, Deputy Prin-

cipals, Deans and Chairpersons of departments of the

new constituent colleges and campuses. The 27 Par-

ticipants from 14 constituent colleges and campuses

were taken through higher education management

with emphasis on strategic management and related

case studies, developing personal action plans (PAP),

organisational development, conflict management,

academic quality assurance and change manage-

ment.

Each participant developed a personal action plan

which will be implemented during the three stages of

the course. Stage II and III will be held in October

2011 and April 2012 respectively and we include re-

ports from the PAPs.

Other topics to be discussed in phase II and III include

e-information resources/databases, e-management

tools, soft skills, leadership, fundraising and financial

management. Participants of the course described it

as very useful for their role as managers and for the

newly established colleges.

Dr Mwenda Mukuthuria of Chuka University College

had this to say: “A lot of appreciations to all our in-

structors for their well delivered package during the

DAAD training. It is exciting to sit in an office when

one has shared great experience with great instruc-

tors and wonderful professors with a wealth of ex-

perience. The entire exercise was illuminating and a

lot of thanks to the organisers.”

The DIES program has trained many managers from

Universities in Eastern Africa, however this partner-

ship was developed with the idea of using the alumni

of this program to train more managers. The experi-

ment.appears to be succeeding beyond expecta-

tions.

Prof. Boga is the DIES-Real training coordinator for

Kenya and is currently the Principal, JKUAT Taita

Taveta Campus

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Upcoming scholarship application deadlines: Postgraduate Courses for Professionals with Relevance to Developing Countries: July 31

DAAD offers scholarships for selected mas-

ters degrees at particular German universities

within the programme "Postgraduate courses

for professionals with relevance to developing

countries". The age limit for most of the

courses is 36 (some 32), the applicant needs

a B a c h e l o r s d e g r e e w i t h a t

least second upper, one year work experi-

ence in the field of the course (at the time of

application) and has to be employed. We re-

quest a letter from the employer granting a

study leave. The application deadline is

July 31 at our office in Nairobi or the respec-

tive German mission in all other countries.

The applications are for next year's intake.

The courses are in the fields of Economic

Sciences/ Business Administration/Political

Economics, Development Co-operation, Engi-

neering and related sciences, mathematics,

regional planning, agricultural and forest sci-

ences, environmental sciences, public health,

media and education.

Further information:

http://nairobi.daad.de/fsr_postgraduate.php

Public Policy and Good Governance

(Master courses): July 31

The programme is targeted at very well quali-

fied graduates with a first university degree

(Bachelor or equivalent), who in the future

want to actively contribute to the social and

economic development of their home coun-

tries. The scholarships are offered to both

young graduates without professional experi-

ence and to mid-career professionals. The

scholarships are for specific Master courses

at a German institution of higher education.

The applications are for next year‟s intake.

By July 31, application documents by Ken-

yans need to be submitted to the DAAD Re-

gional Office for Africa; for all other countries,

applications need to be submitted to the Ger-

man missions in the respective countries.

Further information: http://nairobi.daad.de/

public_policy_good_gov.php

PhD scholarships to Germany:

September 30

fully DAAD funded, DAAD/ NCST funded

DAAD offers full grant PhD scholarships (3

years in Germany, degree from German uni-

versity) as well as PhD scholarships in the

Sandwich scheme. The Master's degree must

have been completed less than 6 years ago.

For the Sandwich scheme, the applicant can

go to Germany for up to 2 years, but has to

return to graduate from a home university.

For the Sandwich scholarship, a registration

at a local university and a tuition waiver/ con-

firmation of payment of fees are required.

THE SCHOLARSHIPS IN GERMANY ARE

OPEN TO ALL FIELDS OF STUDY!

By September 30, application documents by

Kenyans need to be submitted to the DAAD

Regional Office for Africa; for all other coun-

tries, applications need to be submitted to the

German missions in the respective countries.

Further information:

http://nairobi.daad.de/fsr_doctorial.php

You can folow us on

Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/

DAADNairobi

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Professor Margret Wintermantel elected new DAAD President

DAAD General Assembly elects new Executive Committee and new Board of Trustees for the 2012-2015 term of office Bonn, 21.6.2011

The President of the German Rectors‟ Conference

(“Hochschulrektorenkonferenz” – HRK), Professor Dr.

Margret Wintermantel, is to be the new President of the

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) as of 1st

January 2012.

The new Vice-President will be the President of Justus

Liebig University of Gießen, Professor Dr. Joybrato

Mukherjee.

Margret Wintermantel and Joybrato Mukherjee were

elected by a large majority of the representatives of all

235 member higher education institutions and 125

member student bodies of the DAAD at their General

Assembly in Bonn. Since Sabine Kunst stepped down

in February 2011, having been appointed Branden-

burg‟s Minister of Higher Education and Research,

longstanding Vice-President Prof. Dr. Max G. Huber

has carried on with official duties.

With Wintermantel‟s election, a woman will be heading

the largest academic exchange organisation world-wide

for the second time.

Margret Wintermantel studied psychology and publishing

at Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz from 1966 to

1970. In 1972, she first did her Dr. rer. nat. in psychology.

Afterwards, she completed her “Habilitation” (German

qualification for a university lecturer) in psychology at the

University of Heidelberg in 1986. Before being elected

HRK President in March 2006, Wintermantel had already

been HRK Vice-President for Research and Junior Scien-

tists and Scholars and, from 2000 to 2006, President of

the University of the Saar. She is also a member of nu-

merous national and international bodies.

Prof. Joybrato Mukherjee studied English language and

literature, biology and education science at RWTH

Aachen from 1992 to 1997. In 2000, he did his doctorate

in English linguistics at the University of Bonn and com-

pleted his “Habilitation” in English philology in 2003. Be-

fore Mukherjee, who was 36 years old at the time, be-

came President of the University of Gießen in December

2009, he had already been Vice Dean of the Department

of Languages, Literature and Culture there from 2004 to

2008 and First Vice-President from 2008 to 2009.

The General Assembly also elected 12 further members

of the Executive Committee, including three student rep-

resentatives, who will start their term on the 1st January

2012, too.

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A new head for DAAD Section 413 Eastern and Southern Africa

After almost 10 years at the helm of the DAAD Unit

413: Africa Subsahara, Dr. Roland Weiss left the

DAAD at the end of last year. Known to many of our

partners, Dr. Weiss lead the unit through a period of

remarkable achievements in the DAAD‟s co-

operation with African partners. In the wake of the

German Foreign Office‟s “Aktion Afrika”, the DAAD

was able to increase the number of scholarships in

Africa significantly, to expand its network of DAAD

lecturers, to set up African-German centres of ex-

cellence, among them the Centre of Development

Research and Criminal Justice at UWC, and initi-

ated a number of other cooperation activities be-

tween African and German collaborators. Roland

Weiss will continue his commitment to international

Higher Education cooperation as the founding di-

rector of the new International Office of the Univer-

sity of Applied Sciences (FH) Bonn-Rhein-Sieg.

His successor Cay Etzold also has an in-depth pro-

fessional history in higher education and develop-

ment cooperation. From 2001-05, Mr Etzold was di-

rector of the DAAD Regional Office in Nairobi where

he discovered his passion for the continent. In recent

years, he worked in the unit for higher education co-

operation & alumni projects, and until March 2011 for

DAAD as Resident Twinning Adviser in an EU twin-

ning project on the implementation of the Bologna

reforms with the Ministry of Higher Education of the

Republic of Georgia in Eastern Europe. We wish Cay

Etzold all the best in his new professional challenge,

lots of energy and perseverance.

After three and half years, Dr. Tilo Weber and his

family will be leaving Kenya for Germany. Dr. We-

ber has been an active DAAD Lecturer in the de-

partment of Linguistics and languages, college of

Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of

Nairobi. He was the Head of German Studies De-

partment.

He was involved in teaching Bachelors, Masters

and PhD students as well as supporting DAAD in

providing information of studying in Germany during

our open days as well as exhibitions. He was also

involved in DAAD key activities like Proposal Writ-

ing Workshops, preselection for Masters and PhD in

the country and Germany among other DAAD spon-

sored workshops.

We would like to sincerely thank Dr. Weber for his

good service and selfless involvement whenever he

was called upon.

We wish Dr. Weber and his family all the best for

the future. Kwaheri ya Kuonana!!

Farewell to Dr. Tilo Weber

Dr. Weber receives a gift from the DAAD Nairobi

Director Christoph Hansert during a Special

Lunch organized at the DAAD Regionl Office for

his farewell