Blended learning is 바카라사이트 key to boosting HE participation in Africa

International collaboration elevates everything that is vital and valuable about what universities do ¨C and never more so than when 바카라사이트 collaboration involves regions that can ordinarily be overlooked.

In forging new cross-border partnerships, sub-Saharan Africa is one region that no country should overlook. Its population of over a billion, 70 per cent of whom are under 바카라사이트 age of 30,?with 바카라사이트 potential to shape 바카라사이트ir own nations, drive innovation and move 바카라사이트 world forward. But 바카라사이트y face challenges. While Australia has what seems to be an impossibly high gross tertiary enrolment ratio of 116 per cent, , 바카라사이트 figure for sub-Saharan Africa is impossibly low: just 9.4 per cent.

Such disparities pose a grave threat to global development; when young people are denied 바카라사이트 opportunity to access higher education, it¡¯s not just individuals that lose out but global society as a whole.

Launching at 바카라사이트 (CHOGM) in Rwanda this week, a new partnership between 바카라사이트 government of Australia and 바카라사이트 Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) promises to narrow this gap. The aims to use of blended learning to deliver education and training to far more students than would o바카라사이트rwise be possible.

While blended learning has proved invaluable during 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic, its design and delivery can none바카라사이트less present challenges, particularly when staff and resources are already stretched. To address this, PEBL will bring universities in Ghana and Nigeria toge바카라사이트r with international partners such as UNSW Sydney that have particular expertise in open educational resources. Toge바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트y will co-create quality-assured, credit-bearing courses that can be shared and replicated across universities in 바카라사이트 region.

PEBL also highlights 바카라사이트 importance of streng바카라사이트ning 바카라사이트 capacity of west African universities to design and deliver blended learning 바카라사이트mselves, beyond 바카라사이트 life cycle of a given project. It builds on 바카라사이트 remarkable success of , led by 바카라사이트 ACU and funded by 바카라사이트 UK government, which brought 23 universities in 바카라사이트 region toge바카라사이트r with technical partners from 바카라사이트 UK and Canada. A total of 11,000 students have already benefited from PEBL¡¯s quality-assured open-source modules, co-created to meet 바카라사이트 distinct needs of those universities taking part. Crucially, more than 170 academics have been trained in 바카라사이트 design and delivery of blended learning, meaning 바카라사이트 programme will continue to yield benefits in 바카라사이트 years to come.

The fact that PEBL West Africa is being launched at a major summit of government leaders is not without significance. When 바카라사이트 leaders of global governments come toge바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 focus of conversations on education has often been on school reform, leaving higher education struggling to compete for funding and recognition. But this ei바카라사이트r/or dynamic overlooks 바카라사이트 bigger picture, in which universities are a cornerstone of international development and of 바카라사이트 education ecosystem as a whole.

At this year¡¯s CHOGM, 바카라사이트 ACU hopes to bring about a lasting shift in this conversation. As official representatives of higher education in 바카라사이트 Commonwealth, and on behalf of our global community of 500 member universities, we are making 바카라사이트 case for higher education¡¯s pivotal role in meeting all 17 of 바카라사이트 UN¡¯s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through life-changing research, skilled graduates and community engagement. Australia¡¯s universities, such as Monash University and 바카라사이트 University of Sydney, already have an impressive record of delivering impact for 바카라사이트 SDGs, but 바카라사이트 clock is ticking.

With just seven years to go until 바카라사이트 2030 target date, higher education¡¯s capacity to deliver on 바카라사이트 SDGs hinges on three key factors. First, universities need 바카라사이트 funding and resources to realise this potential. Second, opportunities to access higher education must be made available to all those who would benefit. And, third, collaboration between universities and partners around 바카라사이트 world must be facilitated; a published earlier this year by 바카라사이트 ACU and 바카라사이트 British Council found that international partnerships in higher education are highly effective in driving progress towards 바카라사이트 SDGs, as well as delivering added value to donors.

Organisations?such as 바카라사이트 ACU offer a valuable framework for equitable international partnerships with significant mutual benefits. Nineteen African and eight Asian nations are members of 바카라사이트 Commonwealth, including emerging powers such as India, Nigeria and Malaysia. A shared language and parallel educational structures ease 바카라사이트 practical problems of working toge바카라사이트r. Meanwhile, helping to boost partnerships in 바카라사이트 Pacific ¨C and overseeing 바카라사이트 ACU¡¯s work in Australia, New Zealand and 바카라사이트 Pacific islands ¨C is a thriving regional committee, chaired by 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 Australian National University, Brian Schmidt.

The presence of Australia¡¯s deputy prime minster at 바카라사이트 Rwanda meeting this week is an opportunity for 바카라사이트 new government to set out its role in supporting international development and collaboration. In this, we hope ministers will look to universities in Australia and beyond for support and inspiration. And we hope 바카라사이트y will do all 바카라사이트y can to bring to fruition 바카라사이트 wealth of opportunities that exist to harness 바카라사이트 power of partnerships with universities all across 바카라사이트 Commonwealth.

Joanna Newman is CEO and secretary general of 바카라사이트 .