Regional
Britain Plans Brain Drain Compensation
Britain is working on ways to compensate African countries for the thousands of medical professionals who leave the continent to work in Britain’s national health service.
There are no plans to provide outright financial compensation for the so-called medical brain drain; however, the British government is looking into training programs, provision of medicines and aiding the continent in tackling its infrastructure problems. Approximately 70,000 qualified Africans leave the continent every year to work abroad, according to the Department for International Development [1], with many going to the United Kingdom and Europe, leaving the continent drained of its best intellectual and medical talent.
This fall, a multidepartment group is providing training and textbooks. The British government has earmarked US$176 million for the project over six years. A survey done recently by Universities UK [2] listed more than 200 collaborations with 134 African universities, with almost one-third of the projects in medical and health sciences.
— Reuters [3]
Aug. 20, 2005
U.S. Foundations Donate US$200 Million
Six U.S. foundations are providing US$200 million in grants to strengthen African universities over the next five years. The foundations announced the project in September; the funding will be aimed at increasing access to the Internet, developing regional networks to share research and training capacity, and training senior administrators to strengthen university management.
The Partnership for Higher Education [4] in Africa was established five years ago by, among others, the Carnegie Corp. of New York [5], which pledged US$150 million. The total amount pledged has now reached $350 million. The money will be spent at universities in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.
The announcement, which was made at the Ford Foundation on the sidelines of the opening of the UN General Assembly, shows a growing recognition from international leaders that higher education is crucial for the development of sub-Saharan Africa. The project marks a turning point in the belief that educational development efforts in the region should be concentrated on primary education. Major donors such as the World Bank have in the last few years been receiving criticism for largely neglecting higher education development projects.
— SciDev [6]
Sept. 19, 2005
French Air Levy Would Aid African Education
The French government is considering a levy on airline tickets beginning in 2006 to fund extra aid for Africa. President Jacques Chirac announced in August that France, Germany, Algeria, Brazil, Chile and Spain joined forces to push the idea at September’s UN summit. He said a tax of $1 a ticket could raise US$10 billion a year to fund campaigns in Africa. The money would go to many areas of need in Africa, especially education.
— Airwise News [7]
Aug. 30, 2005
Kenya
Degrees Declared Bogus; Students Lose
Degrees awarded to 231 university graduates were declared bogus when the government announced their former university is illegal. The Commission for Higher Education’s decision that Newport International University has no authority to offer degrees means Newport’s graduates will not be able to use their transcripts to apply for further education or jobs.
Education Minister George Saitoti said colleges entering partnerships with foreign universities without government approval will be deregistered. Credentials from unaccredited institutions will not be recognized, he said. Saitoti asked foreign universities seeking local partnerships to seek clearance from the Commission of Higher Education. Saitoti further stated that foreign universities wishing to operate in Kenya must be first accredited in their home countries.
According to NUC officials, Newport is neither accredited with the commission nor any officially recognized accreditation agencies in the United States. Newport is licensed by the US state of Wyoming and appears to maintain an office in California.
— East Africa Standard [8]
Sept. 14, 2005
Namibia
Bema College Loses Accreditation
The Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) recently withdrew its recognition of privately owned Bema College as a recognized institution of higher education. This follows the termination of agreements between the college and two of its accreditation bodies — London-based City and Guilds of London Institute [9] and the Institute of Commercial Management [10] (ICM).
The suspension, NQA said, has been in effect since August, adding that Bema did not take advantage of the seven-day window available to appeal the decision. NQA Director Frans Gertze said City and Guilds and ICM will arrange for students enrolled at Bema to take exams at the end of the year, but thereafter no qualification from the college will be accepted as valid. Bema College has approximately 300 students enrolled in information technology, telecommunication systems, tourism and English-language courses.
— The Namibian [11]
Sept. 23, 2005
Nigeria
University Approved
The National Universities Commission [12] recognized and approved Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University in Lapai, Niger state. The recognition makes it the 25th state university and the 74th university in Nigeria.
The university is set to begin classes in October 2006, and its development will span three phases. The first phase will offer faculties in agriculture, applied and natural sciences, management and social sciences.
— This Day [13]
Aug. 29, 2005
University Enrollment Figures Released
Data released in September by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board [14] reveals that for the current academic year 901,003 applications were processed for full-time undergraduate studies. According to the National Universities Commission [12] (NUC), there were just 147,323 spots available at the nation’s 75 government-recognized universities, or approximately 16 percent of total applications.
The official figures may not reveal the whole picture as many universities reportedly admit more candidates than mandated by the NUC and some institutions have been penalized in recent years for oversubscribed programs. Kogi State University had a number of its programs de-accredited as a punishment for overcrowded lecture halls. The Federal University of Technology, Owerri had its enrollment quotas severely cut this year for similar reasons.
— This Day [13]
Sept. 27, 2005
Zambia
Academy of Science to Promote Excellence in Research
The Zambia Academy of Science was launched in September with the goal of promoting excellence in research and to strengthen the country’s capacity for science-led development, according to its president.
“The academy will also provide advice on specific scientific problems presented to it by the government and its agencies as well as the private sector,” Mwananyanda Lewanika told SciDev.Net recently. Furthermore, the academy will be responsible for making available Zambian research findings through publishing reports and maintaining contacts with the media. It will also play a role in planning and coordinating the country’s science education. The academy’s members include Zambian scientists and research institutions.
— SciDev.Net [6]
Sept. 16, 2005