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?
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
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