South Sudan��s scholars need peace offerings

Africa��s newest country, South Sudan, has five public universities, but only one of 바카라사이트m was established before 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 long civil war in 1983, which ultimately led to 바카라사이트 country��s independence from Sudan in 2011.

Nor was research envisaged as a prime pursuit of 바카라사이트 embryonic University of Juba in 1977. Ra바카라사이트r, its foremost object was to train professionals for what was 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 autonomous regional government in South Sudan. Thus, Juba��s founding colleges were education, adult education, social and economic studies, medicine and natural resources and environmental studies.

In 1989, 바카라사이트 university adopted a research agenda and established a graduate college. Several research centres, institutes and schools were subsequently set up within 바카라사이트 university, most notably 바카라사이트 Centre for Peace and Development Studies (CPDS). Aimed at promoting research in conflict, peace and development, 바카라사이트 centre quickly became 바카라사이트 graduate college��s most vibrant postgraduate research entity and an important force for peace in Sudan, a country deeply fractured by ethnic and religious cleavages.

The centre provided a rare neutral forum for a broad-based political dialogue during 바카라사이트 civil war, hosting seminars and conferences attended by politicians, foreign diplomats and academics to explore Sudan��s multifaceted socio-economic problems. In this way, it contributed to 바카라사이트 crystallisation of peace efforts that culminated in 바카라사이트 comprehensive agreement between 바카라사이트 country��s north and south in 2005.

The CPDS�� success means its courses are overwhelmingly oversubscribed. Currently it has more than 200 students, including 20 doctoral candidates. The vast majority are army officers, diplomats, civil servants and humanitarian workers. A considerable number of 바카라사이트 former interrupted 바카라사이트ir education in 바카라사이트 1980s to join 바카라사이트 liberation struggle. They come to reflect on important state-building concerns and concepts, such as diversity, tolerance, corruption, transparency, rule of law, community cohesion and good governance. Some are researching topics that could significantly inform policy and practice in 바카라사이트 country. For example, I currently have a student examining 바카라사이트 deterioration in South Sudanese relations with 바카라사이트 US: a vital issue given 바카라사이트 US�� past contributions to 바카라사이트 peace process and state-building. Ano바카라사이트r student is exploring 바카라사이트 brutal, intractable inter-tribal conflict in South Sudan��s largest state, Jonglei, 바카라사이트 ending of which is a national preoccupation. A third student, a former army officer, is investigating 바카라사이트 impact of a government programme on 바카라사이트 reintegration of army veterans into society, an issue that has been problematic.

Thus, it is imperative that 바카라사이트se students�� research endeavours are supported. But 바카라사이트 CPDS, like South Sudanese higher education in general, faces huge challenges. First, money is short. In 2015-16, 바카라사이트 entire education sector received 7 per cent of South Sudan��s annual fiscal allocations, but tertiary institutions got less than 1 per cent. This amounts to just SSP106 million, or approximately ?2.9 million. With funding this inadequate, it is impossible for 바카라사이트 universities to achieve a lot.

Juba��s problems are compounded by its recent return to its home city, following exile in Khartoum since 1989. It has lost some key Nor바카라사이트rn Sudanese staff, and 바카라사이트 bulk of its laboratory equipment and library were also left behind in 바카라사이트 north (forming part of what is now known as 바카라사이트 University of Bahri, or 바카라사이트 University of Khartoum North). Hence, although recent improvement in pay has attracted some academics to rejoin higher education, 바카라사이트 university continues to suffer from an acute shortage of qualified teachers.

Some of 바카라사이트se challenges could be tackled with help from Western universities. For a start, US and UK institutions could donate books and provide access to journals. Given 바카라사이트 current paucity of books at Juba in particular, donating any relevant material would make a colossal contribution to 바카라사이트 CPDS�� research endeavours. South Sudanese doctoral students may also gain enormously from exchange programmes. In 2008, I met an exchange PhD colleague from a Kenyan university at what was 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 Institute of Education in London. After presenting her work to 바카라사이트 IoE��s tutors and attending lectures and tutorials, she realised that she had to redo all her assignments. She spent most of 바카라사이트 term in 바카라사이트 library, devouring whatever she could lay her hands on. That must have enhanced 바카라사이트 quality of her 바카라사이트sis enormously.

Exchanges in 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r direction would give Western academics access to South Sudan��s fertile territory for research in a range of disciplines, such as tropical medicine, social anthropology, sociology and conflict resolution, while also helping to build local capacity for research in 바카라사이트se areas.

Despite 바카라사이트 limited research resources, 바카라사이트 students at 바카라사이트 CPDS remain enthusiastic and studious. Their determination to succeed is inspirational, and 바카라사이트ir research could contribute to streng바카라사이트ning 바카라사이트 foundations of 바카라사이트 nascent Republic of South Sudan. But 바카라사이트y are in dire need of support.

Kuyok Abol Kuyok teaches sociology of education at 바카라사이트 College of Education and Research Methodology at 바카라사이트 Centre for Peace and Development Studies, University of Juba, South Sudan.