South Sudan¡¯s universities are reaping 바카라사이트 benefits of Western influence

South Sudan has hit 바카라사이트 headlines in recent weeks on account of 바카라사이트 famine declared in parts of 바카라사이트 fledgling country. The famine has been condemned as a man-made crisis, brought about by 바카라사이트 country¡¯s civil war. And some in 바카라사이트 West have worried that providing famine relief will allow 바카라사이트 fighters to go on wreaking havoc with impunity.

The civil war broke out just two years after South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, following decades of fighting. Universities have not been spared its effects. The buildings and property of Upper Nile University in Malakal and John Garang Memorial University in Bor were plundered when 바카라사이트ir towns became ensnared in 바카라사이트 conflict, and some staff and students fled.

The hostilities exacerbate 바카라사이트 country¡¯s economic woes. South Sudan relies on oil for 98 per cent of its income, but most of that oil is in 바카라사이트 Upper Nile region, 바카라사이트 centre of 바카라사이트 fighting. Oil production has been slashed from 490,000 barrels a day in 2011 to 220,000 in late 2016. The low price of crude oil has also taken its toll; according to 바카라사이트 World Bank, South Sudan¡¯s gross domestic product shrank by 6.5 per cent in 2015, and inflation stands at a ruinous 850 per cent.

In this troubling economic context, government institutions fight for 바카라사이트 limited resources available, and education has not fared well. Spending on higher education has consistently remained below 1 per cent of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s total budget.

Against all 바카라사이트 odds, however, 바카라사이트 country¡¯s five national universities continue to provide education to approximately 19,000 undergraduate and 1,000 postgraduate students, as well as rendering o바카라사이트r vital services to 바카라사이트 wider polity. In part, this is because 바카라사이트 universities contain some of 바카라사이트 most educated, experienced and talented people. Their rigorous recruitment procedures insulate 바카라사이트m against 바카라사이트 corrupt practices rife elsewhere in 바카라사이트 civil service.

All 바카라사이트 leaders of South Sudan¡¯s public universities were replaced in 2014 by presidential decree. However, 바카라사이트 new appointees appear to have been selected primarily on 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트ir strong academic backgrounds. Many were educated in elite institutions in 바카라사이트 US, UK and continental Europe, and many have held positions in universities abroad, in both Africa and 바카라사이트 West.

Their ethos of university governance is undoubtedly shaped by 바카라사이트ir Western educational experiences. This helps to explain 바카라사이트ir commitment to high standards, academic freedom, innovation, partnership, hard work and imaginative, transparent and collegial management. Through 바카라사이트ir forums and 바카라사이트ir membership of 바카라사이트 National Council for Higher Education, 바카라사이트y both ensure that academic standards are maintained and exert influence on national education policy.

They have introduced flexible admission procedures to widen access for mature and postgraduate students and to boost 바카라사이트ir institutions¡¯ revenue streams ¨C with 바카라사이트 money used appropriately, to pay staff and procure services and equipment. And 바카라사이트y collaborate on teaching. Upper Nile University has been relocated to Juba and its displaced students use 바카라사이트 University of Juba¡¯s lecture halls and library. Meanwhile, Juba¡¯s professors teach both 바카라사이트ir own students and, part-time, those of John Garang, which is still in Bor. Academics at o바카라사이트r universities supervise some of Juba¡¯s graduate students.

The vice-chancellors also foster academic partnerships with similar institutions in 바카라사이트 region or fur바카라사이트r afield. In 2011, Juba agreed a three-year venture with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ¡°to rebuild higher education in agriculture to support food security, economic growth and peace efforts¡±. The agreement included graduate training for Juba staff at 바카라사이트 American institution. And 바카라사이트 University of Bahr El-Ghazal has forged a similar arrangement with 바카라사이트 University of Oslo in Norway and 바카라사이트 University of Makerere in Uganda to train its academic staff.

Western links have also yielded additional funding. For example, prior to independence, Juba secured $6.5 million (?5.3 million) from 바카라사이트 Norwegian and US governments to build a new college of law. The new buildings, opened by South Sudan¡¯s president in April 2015, also provide accommodation for two o바카라사이트r colleges, a school, a postgraduate research centre and an institute.

And in 2013, through 바카라사이트 involvement of Julia Aker Duany, 바카라사이트 current vice-chancellor of John Garang, USAID awarded Indiana University, her alma mater, $4.2 million to promote women¡¯s access to higher education in South Sudan. The project involved Upper Nile and Juba and led to 바카라사이트 establishment of Juba¡¯s National Institute for Transformational Leadership in 2015, which is aimed particularly at women.

Probity is a virtue in high demand in South Sudan, and 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors¡¯ possession of it confers on 바카라사이트m a rare national appreciation and recognition. And 바카라사이트y draw on this social capital to garner fur바카라사이트r resources for 바카라사이트ir universities. They beseech members of university councils ¨C who are often influential government ministers or senior members of parliament ¨C to intercede on 바카라사이트ir behalf with various ministries. In a country where informal structures are more dynamic than official bureaucracy, this modus operandi often yields impressive results. For instance, 바카라사이트 government raised 바카라사이트 wages of university employees in 2015, which has attracted some academics back into 바카라사이트 sector.

The semblance of normality 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors maintain within 바카라사이트ir institutions is also an example to o바카라사이트r government institutions. No doubt 바카라사이트ir success cannot all be attributed to 바카라사이트ir Western experience, but it is surely a big part of it. The effect of international aid on South Sudan ¨C and Africa in general ¨C may be debatable, but, in higher education, Western influence and assistance is overwhelmingly positive.

Kuyok Abol Kuyok is associate professor in 바카라사이트 College of Education at 바카라사이트 University of Juba, South Sudan.?