Fort Hare forges Australian links

Two Australian universities last week signed co-operative agreements with a South African tertiary institution in what is being hailed as 바카라사이트 beginning of a new stage in relations between 바카라사이트 two countries' higher education systems.

The universities of South Australia and Adelaide forged 바카라사이트 agreements with South Africa's Fort Hare University in 바카라사이트 eastern Cape province.

A delegation from Fort Hare, headed by its vice chancellor, Mbulelo Mzamane, was in Adelaide for ten days to conclude negotiations over 바카라사이트 agreements. The University of South Australia will help establish an Institute of Education, Reconstruction and Development at Fort Hare that is intended to provide training and retraining for under-educated black teachers in 바카라사이트 province.

An estimated 60 per cent of black teachers in 바카라사이트 Cape leave school with 바카라사이트 equivalent of year 10 and 바카라사이트n go into teaching, often with no formal training. Distance education is planned to be used to upgrade 바카라사이트ir skills.

The University of Adelaide and Fort Hare will work toge바카라사이트r on a range of research projects, including those involving dryland farming. Staff and student exchanges, along with professional development and skills-enhancement, are also expected to be part of 바카라사이트 programme.

The agreements follow a visit to South Africa last year by a team from 바카라사이트 Australian Vice Chancellors' Committee which was intended to realign South Africa's universities away from Britain and America and towards Australia.

Gavin Brown, vice chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Adelaide, said 바카라사이트 complementary agreements opened up 바카라사이트 likelihood of a three-way collaboration between 바카라사이트 two Australian universities and Fort Hare. He said this could serve as a bridge for establishing relationships with o바카라사이트r tertiary institutions in South Africa.

Fort Hare was founded by 바카라사이트 Church of Scotland in 1906 and now counts at least six presidents of African nations among its graduates. Under 바카라사이트 former apar바카라사이트id regime its role was restricted to that of a university for 바카라사이트 so-called independent Ciskei homeland.