HIGHER EDUCATION IN SSA: challenges and prospects

Learning Agrobiodiversity Workshop: 21-23 Jan 2009

Wellington N. EkayaRUFORUM

Program Manager (Training & Quality Assurance)

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

Briefly about RUFORUM

Role of Higher Education in Africa

Capacity challenges in African Universities

Recent interventions/responses

Some opportunities

Lessons learnt

Genesis of RUFORUMGenesis of RUFORUM

RUFORUM: RUFORUM: Regional Universities Forum for Regional Universities Forum for

Capacity Building in AgricultureCapacity Building in Agriculture

Initiated in 1992 by the Rockefeller Foundation to Initiated in 1992 by the Rockefeller Foundation to

enhance M.Sc level graduate trainingenhance M.Sc level graduate training

Operated Operated in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda

and Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe

Transformed into RUFORUM in 2004, and in 2006 Transformed into RUFORUM in 2004, and in 2006

expanded to Zambia and Tanzania expanded to Zambia and Tanzania

Owned by a consortium of 12 (+13) Universities Owned by a consortium of 12 (+13) Universities

with a with a Secretariat located in Uganda Secretariat located in Uganda

Objectives of RUFORUMObjectives 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

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

Role of Higher Education in Role of Higher Education in SSASSA

HE is recognized as key to Africa’s economic HE is recognized as key to Africa’s economic

growth and political developmentgrowth and political development

HE plays a critical capacity and professional HE plays a critical capacity and professional

training role in support of all the MDGstraining role in support of all the MDGs

SA Council of HE: “SA Council of HE: “The main determinant of The main determinant of

poverty in Africa today is neither lack of natural poverty in Africa today is neither lack of natural

resources nor geographical marginality, but rather resources nor geographical marginality, but rather

the lack of appropriate human capital to produce the lack of appropriate human capital to produce

added value, make use of technology and attract added value, make use of technology and attract

investments”investments”

Role of Higher Education in Role of Higher Education in SSASSA

In 2000, Kofi Annan argued:” In 2000, Kofi Annan argued:” The University must The University must

become a primary tool for Africa’s development in become a primary tool for Africa’s development in

the new Century”.the new Century”.

East Asia economic growth (1990-1995)East Asia economic growth (1990-1995)

India’s economic developmentIndia’s economic development

Capacity challenges in African Capacity challenges in African

UniversitiesUniversities

Capacity challenges in African Capacity challenges in African UniversitiesUniversities

Curriculum reform and delivery for relevanceCurriculum 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 Developing approaches that enhance university

contribution to national growth and developmentcontribution 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

Capacity challenges in African Capacity challenges in African UniversitiesUniversities

Building managerial and leadership capacity and Building managerial and leadership capacity and

institutional reform for credible and relevant institutional reform for credible and relevant

university traininguniversity 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 Building cross-cutting professional skills to enhance

productivity of individuals and groups.productivity of individuals and groups. rigid attitude and mindset; lack of soft skills/personal mastery; weak

negotiation skills; lack of self confidence.

Capacity challenges in African Capacity challenges in African UniversitiesUniversities

Developing and maintaining functional partnerships Developing and maintaining functional partnerships

with private sector, farmers’ organizations, other with private sector, farmers’ organizations, other

service providers, universities abroadservice 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 Building capacity for Africa-based high quality

publicationspublications lack of trust and pride in our research findings and publications; weak

skills for conducting high quality research

Capacity challenges in African Capacity challenges in African UniversitiesUniversities

Advocacy and fund raising to increase investment in Advocacy and fund raising to increase investment in

Higher EducationHigher 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:Institutional Egos:

Recent interventions in Recent interventions in

African Universities: by African Universities: by

RUFORUMRUFORUM

Recent interventions in African Recent interventions in African Universities:Universities:

RUFORUM commissioned a study in 2004:RUFORUM commissioned a study in 2004: Strengths and weaknesses of member Universities

Facilities and human resources/expertise

Networking and experiences

Outcome: Comparative advantage mapOutcome: Comparative advantage map

Regional Consultation:Regional Consultation: What should we focus on in terms of capacity building? And how what What should we focus on in terms of capacity building? And how what

approachapproach

Consultation was informed by many years of MSc. Training under FORUM Consultation was informed by many years of MSc. Training under FORUM

ProgramProgram

Consensus: Regional PhD Program (with Consensus: Regional PhD Program (with

coursework)coursework)

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

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

What did it take, what is innovative?

Re-orientation workshop for faculty staff

Skills enhancement for studentsSkills enhancement for students Technical writing skills

Soft skill/personal mastery

Skills enhancement for staffSkills enhancement for staff Proposal writingProposal writing E-content developmentE-content development Team buildingTeam building Effective supervisionEffective supervision

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

Other Interventions

Other Interventions:

Versatile Leadership and Management are Versatile Leadership and Management are

crucial in catalysing responsiveness of crucial in catalysing responsiveness of

Universities to:Universities to:

Academic, research and development Academic, research and development

needs of a countryneeds of a country

Many Universities in Africa have weak Many Universities in Africa have weak

Leadership and Management systems.Leadership and Management systems.

Other Interventions: CCAU

FARA (2005): Most compelling weaknesses FARA (2005): Most compelling weaknesses

of the NARS are:of the NARS are:

Management of institutional learning and Management of institutional learning and

adaptationadaptation

Financial ManagementFinancial Management

Strategic Planning and VisioningStrategic Planning and Visioning

Public Relations, lobbying and advocacyPublic Relations, lobbying and advocacy

CCAU:

Objective of CCAU: Objective of CCAU:

To strengthen University Leadership and To strengthen University Leadership and

Management systems with competencies Management systems with competencies

to deliver their roles effectively and to deliver their roles effectively and

efficientlyefficiently

PICO team is leading the initiativePICO team is leading the initiative

Inception meeting scheduled for 2-25 Feb Inception meeting scheduled for 2-25 Feb

2009.2009.

Other Interventions:

ERESAERESA: : Enhancing Research Skills in East Enhancing Research Skills in East

and Southern Africaand Southern Africa

QAMQAM: : Quality Assurance Mechanism in Quality Assurance Mechanism in

graduate traininggraduate training

AICMAICM: : Agricultural Information and Agricultural Information and

Communication Management Communication Management

Some Sources of Funding:

Edulink EU ProgrammeEdulink EU Programme

DelPHE ProgrammeDelPHE Programme

Rockefeller FoundationRockefeller Foundation

AAU -MRCIAAU -MRCI

EU FP-7EU FP-7

BMGFBMGF

Key lessons:

““Africa has innovative success stories Africa has innovative success stories

in higher education, which can in higher education, which can

inform future initiatives”inform future initiatives”

““Universities need to position Universities need to position

themselves strategically to maximise themselves strategically to maximise

use of opportunities” use of opportunities”

Recognition /Incentives:

IMPRESSA AwardIMPRESSA Award

Women and Young Professionals in Science Women and Young Professionals in Science

CompetitionsCompetitions

THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR AUDIENCEAUDIENCE

For more details see www.ruforum.org For more details see www.ruforum.org