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Live Q&A: What will it take to get better higher education in Africa? Live Q&A: What will it take to get better higher education in Africa?
(7 days later)
Africa will forever be dependent on international donors unless its universities can stand shoulder to shoulder with the Harvards, Oxfords and MITs of this world. If that happens, the continent can educate its own politicians, lawyers and engineers. But even the most optimistic of the “Africa rising” narrators would say that there’s a long way to go.Africa will forever be dependent on international donors unless its universities can stand shoulder to shoulder with the Harvards, Oxfords and MITs of this world. If that happens, the continent can educate its own politicians, lawyers and engineers. But even the most optimistic of the “Africa rising” narrators would say that there’s a long way to go.
Related: Higher Education in Africa: Our continent needs science, not aidRelated: Higher Education in Africa: Our continent needs science, not aid
Significant investment from a variety of sources – national, international and private – is needed to improve the current institutions which are under increasing strain. Due to the youth bulge and growth in university applicants, Africa is the only region in the world that decreased public spending per student from 1995-2010, says the World Bank report Financing Higher Education in Africa.Significant investment from a variety of sources – national, international and private – is needed to improve the current institutions which are under increasing strain. Due to the youth bulge and growth in university applicants, Africa is the only region in the world that decreased public spending per student from 1995-2010, says the World Bank report Financing Higher Education in Africa.
“Admitting an ever-increasing number of students results in a trade-off at the expense of quality,” said the report. “Universities are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain a teaching staff, lecture halls are overcrowded, and buildings are falling into disrepair, teaching equipment is not replenished, investment in research and in training for new teachers is insufficient.”“Admitting an ever-increasing number of students results in a trade-off at the expense of quality,” said the report. “Universities are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain a teaching staff, lecture halls are overcrowded, and buildings are falling into disrepair, teaching equipment is not replenished, investment in research and in training for new teachers is insufficient.”
So what will it take to improve higher education on the continent? How can governments be persuaded to prioritise universities in their stretched budgets? And what can international organisations do?So what will it take to improve higher education on the continent? How can governments be persuaded to prioritise universities in their stretched budgets? And what can international organisations do?
Join our expert panel to discuss these and other questions on Thursday 30 July, from 1-3pm BST.Join our expert panel to discuss these and other questions on Thursday 30 July, from 1-3pm BST.
The live chat is not video or audio-enabled but will take place in the comments section (below). Get in touch via globaldevpros@theguardian.com or @GuardianGDP on Twitter to recommend someone for our expert panel. Follow the discussion using the hashtag #globaldevlive.The live chat is not video or audio-enabled but will take place in the comments section (below). Get in touch via globaldevpros@theguardian.com or @GuardianGDP on Twitter to recommend someone for our expert panel. Follow the discussion using the hashtag #globaldevlive.
Panel tbc The panel
Sadiq Yusuf, deputy vice chancellor academic affairs, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda, @sadiqyusuf12Sadiq is a professor of physiology, the director of Africa Affairs at Teaching and Research in Natural Sciences for Development in Africa and president of Society for Neuroscientist in Africa.
James Kassaga Arinaitwe, global fellow, Acumen, Bangalore, India, @JamesArinaitweJames is currently working as a manager for special projects at LabourNet, a social enterprise in India. As well as global fellow at Acumen, he is an Aspen New Voices Fellow. After his fellowship he will return to Uganda to work on his country’s educational challenges.
Álvaro Sobrinho, chair, Planet Earth Institute, London, UK, @Alvaro_SobrinhoÁlvaro is an Angloan-born businessman and philanthropist who believes education is always the best investment. Planet Earth Institute is an international NGO working for Africa’s scientific independence.
Tendai Murisa, executive director, TrustAfrica, Dakar, SenegalBorn and raised in Zimbabwe, Tendai coordinates efforts to advocacy for sustainable and equitable agricultural development in Africa. Before that he worked at the African Institute for Agrarian Studies in Harare.
Jonathan Harle, senior programme manager, Inasp, Oxford, UKInasp works with partners in over 20 countries to strengthen access, production and use of research and evidence for development.
Paul Tiyambe Zeleza, vice president of academic affairs and professor of history, Quinnipiac University, Connecticut, USPaul is a university professor and administrator who has worked in the Caribbean, Africa, and North America.
Beatrice Muganda, director of higher education, Partnership for African Social and Governance Research, Nairobi, Kenya, @PASGR_Beatrice is an education policy practitioner promoting in graduate teaching of social science research and public policy.
Charlotte Siegerstetter, implementing manager Algeria, GIZ (the German agency development cooperation), Tlemcen, Algeria, @c_siegerstetterCharlotte is working on a project supporting the African Union Commission to establish the Pan African University.
Sola Adesola, senior lecturer, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford UK, @AGPUKSola is the chair of Brookes Africa Forum and passionate about education development and change for African students in the UK and Nigeria.
Wilson R. Nyemba, engineer, University of Johannesburg, Harare, ZimbabweWilson is on sabbatical from his position as dean of engineering at the University of Zimbabwe to complete a PhD on engineering education at the University of Johannesburg.