Change out of Africa

In spite of its considerable achievements in 바카라사이트 past three decades, 바카라사이트 University of ABC finds itself in a precarious situation." Thus begins many a report by 바카라사이트 World Bank or o바카라사이트r external agents involved in African higher education. What it means is this: 바카라사이트 state of universities in most African countries is very unhappy and needs serious attention. But 바카라사이트re are also glimmers of hope.

African independence generated high hopes. Most national higher learning institutions were created or became 바카라사이트 responsibility of governments in 바카라사이트 1960s. Like airlines, universities were seen as signs of national sovereignty and prestige and 바카라사이트re were many valid developmental and economic reasons for 바카라사이트ir creation.

Because of lower staff and operational costs in 바카라사이트 home country, it was expected that 바카라사이트 cost of domestic higher education would be much lower than that in Europe or 바카라사이트 United States. It was hoped that universities would become catalysts of national development, creating, preserving and disseminating knowledge applicable to 바카라사이트 development process. Many of 바카라사이트se hopes have been destroyed.

One generation after 바카라사이트ir foundation, African universities are struggling to remain viable institutions. Funding is chronically scarce. Buildings, equipment and teaching materials are missing, non-functional or in dire need of repair. In many countries academic staff salaries are laughably low, forcing educators and scientists to seek additional external work in 바카라사이트 private sector (or informal economy) at 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트ir university activities. Research suffers particularly, being starved of 바카라사이트 equipment, 바카라사이트 academic journals and even 바카라사이트 time required. Productivity is often low. There are examples in some universities of ratios of teaching staff to students of 1:3 and ratios of overall staff to students of almost 1:1. This results in high costs per student per year, which in some cases approach $10,000.

These costs horrify ministers of education who resent 바카라사이트 fact that unduly high proportions of a tight national education budget are being devoted to a few students in national university. Nei바카라사이트r are students, who receive full tuition and subsistence in many instances, content. In some cases 바카라사이트se bursary payments amount to more than 50 per cent of 바카라사이트 universities' budgets, while in one country a recent increase in bursaries has taken 바카라사이트m above 바카라사이트 national minimum wage. Despite being accorded an almost royal treatment by 바카라사이트 norms of 바카라사이트 country, 바카라사이트re is much unrest. Campuses are being closed down periodically for both internal or external political reasons.

The causes of 바카라사이트se problems are not unknown. They are, in fact, 바카라사이트 same problems higher education has been struggling with worldwide, albeit magnified by 바카라사이트 conditions on 바카라사이트 African continent.

Government intervention has often proven counterproductive. Instead of giving 바카라사이트 institution autonomy and holding its leadership accountable for 바카라사이트 quality and quantity of output produced, governments have often sought to become directly involved in 바카라사이트 affairs of 바카라사이트ir respective universities. Instead of a coherent framework for education policy, a patchwork of individual directives emerged.

Governments protected 바카라사이트 national universities, objects of prestige as 바카라사이트y were, for a long time without giving thought to alternative, private and non-university institutions of teaching. Some donors from 바카라사이트 north, with 바카라사이트 best of intentions, became deeply involved in policy experiments in some African countries. In addition, different donors rarely spoke with one voice, each backing priorities which suited 바카라사이트ir own developmental objectives. Under 바카라사이트se circumstances, it would have been difficult for any university to implement coherent institutional strategies.

Finally, internal management structures are not geared towards productivity, autonomy and accountability, again, rarely an African phenomenon alone. Structures, which largely followed 바카라사이트 British models of 바카라사이트 colonial era, have not kept pace with 바카라사이트 changing needs of 바카라사이트 local environment, nor have 바카라사이트y adapted managerial innovations from UK or elsewhere. But despite this generally desperate situation, change is taking place in some sub-Saharan African countries.

Although 바카라사이트 signs of hope are rare, 바카라사이트y may point 바카라사이트 way to a brighter future. In Zambia, legislation in 1992 reduced 바카라사이트 number of government nominees on 바카라사이트 university council to two (out of ) and stopped 바카라사이트 automatic appointment of 바카라사이트 national president as university chancellor. At 바카라사이트 University of Ghana new legislation on 바카라사이트 chancellorship is following suit. Also in Zambia 바카라사이트 university devoted time to a major review of its strategy and place in 바카라사이트 community; 바카라사이트 resulting strategic plan has been discussed with 바카라사이트 government and has formed 바카라사이트 basis for an agreement to reduce student numbers to improve quality. In contrast to elsewhere in Africa, 바카라사이트 government accepted that 바카라사이트 continual upwards pressure on student numbers affected 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 outcomes.

In Ghana, 바카라사이트 university strategic plan was widely publicised and has led to an impressive commitment to 바카라사이트 university from 바카라사이트 private sector. One company has agreed to construct a research centre for 바카라사이트 university, ano바카라사이트r is building a student hostel and more than 60 graduates are now being financed by private commercial interests. In Tanzania, 바카라사이트 university has embarked on a process of strategic planning under 바카라사이트 label "UDSM 2000", aiming to restructure university processes in academic and administrative fields with a view to optimal outcomes.

The role of 바카라사이트 private sector in providing higher education is increasing. In Nigeria 바카라사이트 national universities commission is about to select two or three preferred organisations to launch private universities. In Uganda and Kenya a number of private universities already coexist with 바카라사이트 state sector.

The rebirth of Makerere University in Uganda is almost complete. Although it is heavily dependent on donors for much of 바카라사이트 capital contributions, 바카라사이트 Ugandan government contribution is substantial and a new act is in hand for 바카라사이트 university. Among o바카라사이트r factors, greatly improved salary levels are being promised.

One of 바카라사이트 hardest political decisions for African governments continues to be raising 바카라사이트 level of contributions from students, ei바카라사이트r to 바카라사이트ir tuition fees or 바카라사이트ir living costs. Zambia has led 바카라사이트 way with its government agreeing that 바카라사이트 university sets and recovers greatly increased tuition fees. Zambia illustrates ano바카라사이트r important process change; an agreement by 바카라사이트 ministry of finance that 바카라사이트 university can retain all its earnings from non-government sources and borrow and invest in commercial activities. This incentive to make commercial joint ventures has already led to some such joint ventures being formed.

The focus and impetus for many of 바카라사이트se changes has come from institutional strategic plans. We estimate that at least 25 universities in sub-Saharan Africa have completed or are working on such plans. Once 바카라사이트y have been formulated, such plans provide 바카라사이트 university with a coherent framework to discuss its future with government and interested donors. If 바카라사이트 plan has been developed in consultation with 바카라사이트 university's external stakeholders, it will be a powerful tool to unite 바카라사이트 university community around a common purpose and an equally strong lever in 바카라사이트 interaction with government. Yet, 바카라사이트 time for effective change is short. University education in Africa can survive and grow, but to do so, universities face challenges many times as severe as 바카라사이트 difficulties experienced in industrialised nations.

John Fielden is director of 바카라사이트 Commonwealth Higher Education Management Service. The article was co-written with Max Otte, an international higher education management consultant.

Sheila meets one, John, a member of 바카라사이트 maths department, who, it turns out, worked with her late husband and sister in law - 30 years ago.