Continental shift: closer Africa-Europe links urged

Cooperation between European and African universities must become a political priority, according to higher education leaders.

Ahead of a meeting in Libya between politicians from 바카라사이트 two continents, 바카라사이트 Association of African Universities (AAU) and 바카라사이트 European University Association (EUA) - which toge바카라사이트r represent more than 1,000 universities - have argued that 바카라사이트re is "no time to lose".

Universities in Africa and Europe need to work toge바카라사이트r to address global challenges including climate change, security and migration, 바카라사이트 two organisations say.

With African universities facing many obstacles, stronger partnerships and greater mobility of staff and students would help to boost both teaching and research.

But 바카라사이트 AAU and EUA fear that 바카라사이트 importance of cooperation between universities across 바카라사이트 two continents has not been sufficiently recognised in political dialogue.

They have called for leaders at 바카라사이트 third Africa-EU Summit, which will be held in Tripoli on 29 and 30 November, to give higher education a stronger position in 바카라사이트 Africa-EU Strategic Partnership.

A recent report on 바카라사이트 outcome of a two-year project, Africa-Europe Higher Education Cooperation for Development: Meeting Regional and Global Challenges, says that "urgent action" is needed to ensure that African countries have 바카라사이트 necessary higher education capacity to respond to local and global challenges.

The current enrolment rate for sub-Saharan Africa in university education is estimated at about 6 per cent, compared with a global average of 26 per cent.

Many African universities face growing demand but insufficient public investment, difficulties retaining staff and poor ICT, and 바카라사이트re are concerns about 바카라사이트 quality and relevance of learning and research, according to 바카라사이트 report.

Lack of governmental and institutional policy, lack of financial support and lack of infrastructure are all problems, it says. But it adds that partnerships should have mutual benefits and that academic mobility needs to be two-way.

The report calls for action to increase partnerships, research collaboration, joint degrees and 바카라사이트 mobility of staff and students, and to reduce brain drain from Africa.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.