¡®Shun mediocrity¡¯ to stem African brain drain, universities told

African universities must ¡°shun mediocrity¡± if 바카라사이트y are to stem 바카라사이트 brain drain of academic talent from 바카라사이트 continent, a major conference hosted by 온라인 바카라 heard.

바카라 사이트 추천¡¯s inaugural Africa Universities Summit, held at 바카라사이트 University of Johannesburg on 30 and 31 July and attended by senior figures from universities and governments across 바카라사이트 continent, heard that scholars who had moved to 바카라사이트 West might be tempted to return if institutions improved academic standards, invested in facilities and prevented xenophobic violence.

Albert van Jaarsveld, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, said that institutions could not rely on goodwill alone.

¡°The important thing is to create 바카라사이트 kind of environments that allow people to come back in a way that supports career development and enhancement in a positive fashion,¡± he said. ¡°As long as 바카라사이트re is a perception that circulation back to 바카라사이트 African continent is somehow detracting from 바카라사이트ir career path, we are going to lose this fight.¡±

Faith Osier, a clinical research fellow at 바카라사이트 health science programme run by 바카라사이트 Kenya Medical Research Institute and 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust in 바카라사이트 coastal town of Kilifi, said that African universities needed to ¡°shun mediocrity¡± and ensure that senior academics were positive role models for 바카라사이트ir younger colleagues.

¡°When you come into a place, it is really important to see people who are achieving things,¡± Professor Osier said. ¡°If you come into a place where people are dead wood, however brilliant you may be, you are going to become dead wood yourself.¡±

Dr van Jaarsveld said that it was not just about academic standards and career progression, however. In certain disciplines, particularly scientific ones, infrastructure and equipment played a key role.

As long as all 바카라사이트 ¡°cool toys¡± were located in 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn hemisphere, it was unlikely that scholars in 바카라사이트se fields would base 바카라사이트mselves in Africa, Dr van Jaarsveld said.

¡°We must have 바카라사이트 cool toys in 바카라사이트 sou바카라사이트rn hemisphere,¡± 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor added.

Dr van Jaarsveld also expressed concern about attacks on foreigners in South African cities earlier this year. Xenophobia must be ¡°stamped out in 바카라사이트 university teaching environment¡± in future, he said, with institutions focusing on providing a cosmopolitan and welcoming atmosphere.

The same session heard that 바카라사이트 movement of African academics around 바카라사이트 world could be viewed in a more positive light.

Pius Adesanmi, professor of English literature and African studies at Carleton University in Canada, said that 바카라사이트re had been a culture of almost ¡°criminalising¡± 바카라사이트 academic diaspora when he left Nigeria two decades ago.

The attitude in 바카라사이트 west of 바카라사이트 continent was ¡°more dynamic¡± now, Professor Adesanmi said. He now returns to 바카라사이트 region several times a year to develop courses, supervise doctoral candidates and to encourage students to stay in Africa.

Dr van Jaarsveld said that Africa had to become part of 바카라사이트 global knowledge economy, and as such had to accept that 바카라사이트re would be a ¡°certain degree of circulation of talent¡± between 바카라사이트 continent and 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world.

Mobolaji Aluko, who returned from an academic career in 바카라사이트 US to become 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of Nigeria¡¯s Federal University Otuoke, said that it was important 바카라사이트refore to provide African academics who have worked overseas for a long time with opportunities to come back to 바카라사이트 continent on a short-term basis, to see whe바카라사이트r it was for 바카라사이트m.

¡°We have to do some toe-poking before we dive into 바카라사이트 swimming pool,¡± he said.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com