A recent study has been released by the Association of African Universities (AAU) and commissioned by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Higher Education for Development (HED) program. The study has revealed that there are three main obstacles to growth and sustainability in African Higher Education Institutions. The Sub-Saharan Africa Higher Education Leadership Development (SAHEL) Study identified the following challenges: lack of clear strategy for leadership development; differences across countries and institutions regarding government appointments versus merit-based appointments; inadequate succession plans; lack of policies and/or commitment to implementing gender policies that support the advancement of women in leadership roles. AAU and HED presented the findings during AAU’s 13th General Conference held in Libreville, Gabon in May 2013. Strategies to offset these challenges would be part of future discussions to assure inequalities were addressed.
In addition, the Association of African Universities (AAU), in partnership with the World Bank, has proposed the establishment of African Centers of Excellence in Science and Technology in higher education. “The Africa Centers of Excellence project is a key factor for Africa’s socioeconomic development because of its potential contribution to the knowledge economy and hence to growth and development,” says Professor Etienne Ehouan Ehile, Secretary General of the Association of African Universities.
The African Centers of Excellence in Higher Education project aims to strengthen higher education in the fields of agriculture, engineering, health, mining, science and technology across West Africa. The project aims to help universities develop regional centers in these disciplines, with the goal of consolidating scientific skills and expertise.
The West African sub-region contains more countries than any other region in Africa. Each country has its own university system. However, access to higher education is unevenly distributed. Nigeria, the largest country in the sub-region, has 47 universities; while Gambia, the smallest country, has only one. The need to address Africa’s inequality and to strengthen its tertiary institutions is the motivation behind recent collaborative efforts in the region.
Collaborative efforts to strengthen institutions of higher learning in Africa would benefit the entire region.
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