The Tools Of Opportunity

AFRICA’s universities are at the heart of Africa’s future.Good universities build human and institutional capacity.They create the leaders of tomorrow who will help front an African-led future.

They are key to economic growth, and promote good governance vital for sustainable development. Africa has enjoyed glorious ages in higher learning.As Thabo Mbeki observed, the intellectual tradition of the Nubian civilisation, the ancient Egyptians and the great centre of learning in Timbuktu are all part of the continent’s rich history.Higher education in Africa has suffered greatly and the results are manifold.Weakened by slow economic growth, brain drain, HIV-AIDS, conflict and under-investment, Africa’s higher education systems are in crisis.One consequence is that Africa spends some US$4 billion each year recruiting 100 000 skilled expatriates to replace the many African professionals or managers who have emigrated.It is right that the world now looks to a reinvigoration of higher education in Africa.The desire for higher learning is there.There has been an explosion in the number of enrolments in Africa’s higher education institutions, but not enough places.Although there has been an increase in the number of institutes, they are stretched to breaking point with severe shortages in ICT, education materials and curriculum, libraries and books and the systems of management which help universities to run properly.Not only are there not enough places for students, research programmes are in decline.UNESCO data shows the proportion of world patents and academic publications in internationally referred journals in the name of Africans stands at below 1%.Like all solutions to problems of this scale – the answers aren’t easy.But there are opportunities for change.Successful institutions such as the Kigali Institute of Science, Technology and Management that is helping Rwanda build its desperately needed human resource base show what can be achieved.2005 presents an important opportunity.The Commission for Africa report recommends $500 million a year, over ten years, to revitalise Africa’s institutions of higher education and up to $3 billion over 10 years to develop centres of excellence in science and technology, including African institutes of technology.The UK Government is committed to helping where we can.We back the Commission’s recommendation and hope it influences decisions at the G8 summit.We want to ensure that the expertise we have in this country can be brought to bear on revitalising African Higher Education, and in doing so enrich our own understanding of African issues.Developing long-term collaborations will offer benefits in both directions.What is needed is a comprehensive and strategic programme of long-term investment building on the greatness of the African tradition for higher learning – and tackling the crumbling weaknesses of a system not coping.Solutions won’t be straightforward.Governments, businesses and universities need to work together.Partnerships such as that of the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the Association of African Universities and their ten-year revitalisation plan are important.Creating centres of excellence in science, engineering and technology would stimulate the growth of education in this vital sector.Africa needs scientists, engineers and technicians who can think and plan their way through a myriad of problems – to generate wealth and reduce poverty.Major challenges of water, energy, sanitation and urban environments need intelligent African solutions.Health is, perhaps, an area of greatest need where an educated and skilled workforce is essential.Centres of excellence are a proven model for sharing knowledge and boosting capacity when resources are limited.They raise standards by aiming high and leading the way and they have proven their success in India and other areas.Support in the form of training for the heads of African Universities and institutions is also important – although we need an African culture of higher learning, not an imposed model.Importantly, higher education will ensure Africa is part of the global knowledge economy and will bridge the gap between Africa and the rest of the world.The investment needed in higher education is a long-term commitment with a long-term payoff.* The author of this opinion piece, Bill Rammell MP, is the Education Minister in the UK.This article first appeared in the Times Higher Education SupplementAfrica has enjoyed glorious ages in higher learning.As Thabo Mbeki observed, the intellectual tradition of the Nubian civilisation, the ancient Egyptians and the great centre of learning in Timbuktu are all part of the continent’s rich history.Higher education in Africa has suffered greatly and the results are manifold.Weakened by slow economic growth, brain drain, HIV-AIDS, conflict and under-investment, Africa’s higher education systems are in crisis.One consequence is that Africa spends some US$4 billion each year recruiting 100 000 skilled expatriates to replace the many African professionals or managers who have emigrated.It is right that the world now looks to a reinvigoration of higher education in Africa.The desire for higher learning is there.There has been an explosion in the number of enrolments in Africa’s higher education institutions, but not enough places.Although there has been an increase in the number of institutes, they are stretched to breaking point with severe shortages in ICT, education materials and curriculum, libraries and books and the systems of management which help universities to run properly.Not only are there not enough places for students, research programmes are in decline.UNESCO data shows the proportion of world patents and academic publications in internationally referred journals in the name of Africans stands at below 1%.Like all solutions to problems of this scale – the answers aren’t easy.But there are opportunities for change.Successful institutions such as the Kigali Institute of Science, Technology and Management that is helping Rwanda build its desperately needed human resource base show what can be achieved.2005 presents an important opportunity.The Commission for Africa report recommends $500 million a year, over ten years, to revitalise Africa’s institutions of higher education and up to $3 billion over 10 years to develop centres of excellence in science and technology, including African institutes of technology.The UK Government is committed to helping where we can.We back the Commission’s recommendation and hope it influences decisions at the G8 summit.We want to ensure that the expertise we have in this country can be brought to bear on revitalising African Higher Education, and in doing so enrich our own understanding of African issues.Developing long-term collaborations will offer benefits in both directions.What is needed is a comprehensive and strategic programme of long-term investment building on the greatness of the African tradition for higher learning – and tackling the crumbling weaknesses of a system not coping.Solutions won’t be straightforward.Governments, businesses and universities need to work together.Partnerships such as that of the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the Association of African Universities and their ten-year revitalisation plan are important.Creating centres of excellence in science, engineering and technology would stimulate the growth of education in this vital sector.Africa needs scientists, engineers and technicians who can think and plan their way through a myriad of problems – to generate wealth and reduce poverty.Major challenges of water, energy, sanitation and urban environments need intelligent African solutions.Health is, perhaps, an area of greatest need where an educated and skilled workforce is essential.Centres of excellence are a proven model for sharing knowledge and boosting capacity when resources are limited.They raise standards by aiming high and leading the way and they have proven their success in India and other areas.Support in the form of training for the heads of African Universities and institutions is also important – although we need an African culture of higher learning, not an imposed model.Importantly, higher education will ensure Africa is part of the global knowledge economy and will bridge the gap between Africa and the rest of the world.The investment needed in higher education is a long-term commitment with a long-term payoff.* The author of this opinion piece, Bill Rammell MP, is the Education Minister in the UK.This article first appeared in the Times Higher Education Supplement