Africa responds to internationalization: Redefining terms of engagement

between scholars worldwide

James Otieno Jowi African Network for Internationalization of Education (ANIE)

SARUA/IAU Conference Maputo, Mozambique, 22nd June 2012

• Africa is the world's second-largest continent • About 6.2 million students • Growing public & private participation • Gross Enrolment in HE is 7% (fastest growing) • Accounts for 1.5 % of research publications • Spends less than 0.3% of GNP on research • Quality and global competitiveness? • Responsiveness to local demands and global

realities? • Lack of differentiation- universities want to be

everything to everyone! • At the periphery of global knowledge society • Needs a strong, relevant & competitive HE

sector • Due to limited resources, collaborations and

partnerships are crucial • AFRICA IS GROWING!

Africa & the Knowledge society

Today’s Globalized World

Flow of people, culture, ideas, values, knowledge, technology and economy across borders,

facilitating a more interconnected and independent world”

Knowledge Counts

Internationalization of HE- The context

• The world of HE is changing very fast, revolutionary (Altbach, 2010) • Globalization & internationalization- old phenomena/new realities • Internationalization is one of the main drivers of change in HE- also in

Africa (IAU,2010) • The international dimension is becoming more important, complex and

confusing (Knight, 2008) • Has varied definitions and meanings – growing complexity. What does it

mean to you? • Diverse implications for HE in different contexts • Has varied manifestations and developments in Africa • Is driven by differing rationales and priorities • Has attendant challenges, risks and opportunities • Is core to the idea of the university and now a value in itself • It however presents some new opportunities • Africa responds in ways peculiar to its circumstances- history, economy,

geography, politics (Jowi, 2009) • How do we grapple & respond to a future engulfed in complexity and

uncertainty?

Internationalization- Challenges for Africa

• Africa's HE is growing but faces myriad challenges • Internationalization brings new realities & complexities • Africa’s HE sector presently made up of disparate HE systems

(Anglophone, Francophone, Lusophone, Arabophone) • Insufficient supportive infrastructure for internationalization e.g.

partnerships, collaborations, mobility • Under-funding & growing ‘massification’ , quality of African HE has

suffered • Weak institutional capacities to respond to the opportunities and

consequences of internationalization • Research output and postgraduate training very low due to lack of

research-strong academics • ICTs use prevents research produced in Africa to be available to the rest of

the world • Insufficient differentiation and articulation limits lifelong learning

opportunities etc • Concerns on quality of academic programs • Balancing between local challenges and global realities • #All these amid many opportunities

Benefits/opportunities for Africa

• What does Africa want from internationalization? • Main goals and drivers of internationalization vary according to context • Strengthening of research & institutional capacities • Strengthening academic quality/ curriculum • Preparing students for a more globalised world • Developing Africa's academic community- the new generation of scholars for Africa • New window for institutional collaborations • Opportunities for publications • Training in specialized knowledge areas/ development of expertise • Africa's centers of excellence • Opportunities for reverse mobility • Use of specialized infrastructure/ facilities • Cultural diversity…..new ways of doing things • Enrichment of learning experiences • Responding to local societal challenges

What are the risks

• While it affords many benefits there are serious associated risks

• Africa is the only region that identifies risks in internationalization (IAU, 2010)

• Brain drain- is escalating and poses serious concerns

• Commercialization- weak regulation

• Curriculum influences- loss of local relevance

• Unfair collaborations

• Unintended consequences of internationalization

• Are we hitting the target or missing the point?

• Some of these are peculiar to Africa- need to develop ways of responding

• We cannot underestimate the risks!

Academic partnerships & collaborations • This is one of the main goals/drivers of internationalization • A way for African scholars to engage with global community • It is through collaborations that global inequalities can be reduced • African universities have been part of the global HE landscape since inception • The added value of international partnerships in growth of HE • Different activities-different outcomes • Partnerships have been characterized with unfairness with Africa not having her fair share • Africa is neither a key player nor very attractive partner…not seen as a priority region for

future collaborations! • Numerous barriers to engagement in global knowledge networks/societies • Continued isolation • At the receiving end of internationalization.. • Africa holds the short end of the stick. • Africa's own weaknesses • Developed countries taking advantage of Africa's weaknesses/ manipulation • Have implications on Africa's global engagements. • What is the promise of internationalization in this? • Will it enable African universities to emerge from the periphery?

Emerging intra-Africa initiatives

• Africa is beginning to make some responses • Renewed growth in Africa's HE. • The 2006 Plan of Action for 2nd Decade of Education in Africa & UNESCO 2009 World conference on

HE were turning points • AAUs Accra Declaration of 2004 on academic cooperation and mobility in Africa • AU Agenda- revitalization of HE in Africa -regional integration, research & knowledge production,

cooperation • Creation of Africa's Higher Education & Research Space (AHERS) • The Pan African University (PAU) & centres of excellence • Implementation of the Arusha Convention- Recognition of Academic qualifications in Africa • Enhanced collaborations, quality assurance, structural convergence, compatibility, recognition and

transferability of degrees • Strategy for harmonization, academic mobility and regional integration • New scholarship programs/ Research grants- The Mwalimu Nyerere Scholarship program • Regional university associations e.g. SARUA,IUCEA,AWAU • Regional/continental research networks • Institutional initiatives • Tuning Africa/ harmonization of academic programs • Growth in Intra-Africa mobility • These continental efforts need support to bear fruit.

Growing International interests in Africa's HE • There are a number of conventions for cooperation btw Africa and

other regions • Africa-US higher education initiative • Erasmus For All-EU Program • European Union-African Union partnership in higher education • EU-Africa strategy • Intra-ACP program • Southern Africa-Nordic partnerships (SANORD) • Canada-Africa higher education partnership • Scandinavian partnerships (NORHEC, CIMO,SIDA) • Flemish Universities partnerships (VLIR-UOS) • Others such as NUFFIC, DAAD,APPEAR etc • Emerging partners e.g. China, Brazil, India & Russia • There is more room!

Building Africa's Academic community • AAUs Accra Declaration of 2004 on academic cooperation and mobility in Africa • Africa is under-served by world-class/research universities • Low fiscal and human resources- internationalization for capacity building • Establishing community of scholars in different fields- African scholars rarely talk to one

another! • Research and post graduate training low/ Mentoring early career researchers • Development of new generation of African scholars • Development of centres of research excellence • Strengthening research & vibrant research culture in universities • Funding- is a perennial obstacle but crucial for enhancing Africa's competitiveness • Accelerate academic mobility in Africa/ communication/coordination • Africa's diaspora as an enormous resource • Infrastructure for research/teaching • Enhance global competitiveness by focusing on Africa's strengths • We live in a pluralistic, multicultural context • Realization of AHERS and PAU would be instrumental.

Some drawbacks to Africa's engagements with other regions • What is Africa's agenda?- is it the donors agenda? • Is there a plan/strategy- is it still ad hoc? • Human resource capacities/ • Funding for collaborations • Academic communities/non existent pool of academic peers • What is our niche- flagship programs and institutions/centres of excellence • Institutional dynamics • Challenges of ICTs- this is however improving • Weak regulatory frameworks • Most partnerships do not live to expectation- many issues • Low research productivity • Infrastructure for academic engagements • Sense of self-doubt amongst African scholars • The psychological impacts of global inequalities…..why do we feel lesser? • The role of institutional leadership- is crucial • African universities have difficulties in facing growing competition

Growing imbalances

• There are always winners and losers…..the good and the ugly of internationalization

• Africa identifies many risks and weaknesses • Lopsided nature of internationalization e.g. global mobility of

students, global race for talent, Concentration of “world class” universities, nature of global knowledge systems

• Unfairness in collaborations • Developments and implications of ICTs • Recognition of local knowledge….what counts as knowledge? • Money & might- • Language/cultural issues • Constraints in participation in international networks • Contexts vary-historical and geographical realities. • Academic/Research networks in Africa? • What are the benefits for northern partners?

What could be done differently?

• There is nothing wrong with Africa (Achebe) -Africa just has to do its part!

• Use the unprecedented opportunities, interconnectedness and information explosion

• Emphasize on development of domestic capacities

• Sharing of researches/international experiences

• Respond to barriers to internationalization

• Africa's Diaspora presents a great opportunity for international engagements

• Developing competencies in different areas

• Turning challenges into opportunities i.e. the mosquito power- the power of the small

• Mutual respect- spirit of partnership/ Functional interdependence between institutions/regions

• Constructive academic dialogues between different regions

• Coherent policy frameworks for partnerships

• Promote national-level and regional partnerships

• Focus on pillars of high impact partnerships e.g. multi program approach, boots-on-the ground approach, multiple/stable funding

The shape of things to come

• Internationalization will have more impacts

• Changing global demographics- favorable for Africa if turned into an opportunity.

• Rise of the BRIC economies & other emerging nations in S.America and S.E.Asia

• Academic mobility is poised to increase. 3.3 m students now study out of their countries and this will grow to 5.8m by 2025. African students- most mobile! What are implications on Africa?

• Internationalization to take a more regional dimension. Will Africa continue to be isolated?

• Higher education as a global market. Commercialization & global race for talent. Could have negative impacts if unabated.

• Global mobility of labour, competition, rankings and branding.

• English as the international language

• Current economic crisis could impact the future of internationalization

• Increasing private involvement in higher education..and decline in government funding

• Transnational higher education could increase-especially in regions where local capacities are low

• Strategic partnerships, alliances and networks- could take centre stage

• If unabated, the risks for developing countries could be compounded

• Changing dynamics and trends

• How will Africa respond?

• Will it lead to more global polarization and imbalances?

• The call for global responsibility/ rethinking of internationalization is timely!

Africa-The road ahead

• There has not been a time in Africa's history when internationalization was more important-than now

• Focus on intra-Africa partnerships within and across regions • African universities may have to look inwards first • Endemic challenges need redress • Develop local capacities- research/institutional capacities • Integrate internationalization in institutional plans • Create regional frameworks for engagement • Concerted efforts to respond to the risks • Strategic alliances and partnerships/deliberate & strategic efforts • Prioritization for greater outcomes • Monitor the trends of global developments in HE • Develop and facilitate the next generation of African scholars • Maximize on the benefits of internationalization and other opportunities • Africa is still fragmented in many fronts/Lessons from Bologna process and new

developments in other regions • Our determination and collective approach can take us so far • Time changes, opportunities come and go and circumstances are never repeated! • It could be Africa's time to take its place.

What is ANIE?

• ANIE- African Network for Internationalization of Education • Membership based organization established in 2008 • Developed out of a research projects involving 16 African countries • Focuses on international dimension of HE in Africa • Activity areas

– Research on internationalization in Africa – Capacity building for institutions/individuals e.g via workshops, ISAS etc – Policy dialogue sessions on internationalization. – Convening- conferences- 4th ANIE Conference, 26-28th Sept 2012 University

of Pretoria, South Africa – Internationalization in Africa: Maximizing the benefits and minimizing the risks

– New generation of researchers – Dissemination framework- AFIRE

• Secretariat based at Moi University, Kenya

James Otieno Jowi

African Network for Internationalization of Education (ANIE)

P.O.Box 3900, Eldoret, Kenya

www.anienetwork.org

jowij@anienetwork.org