BRICS & Emerging Economies University Rankings 2017: creating world-class universities in Africa

Browse 바카라사이트 full BRICS & Emerging Economies University Rankings 2017 results

In facing 바카라사이트 challenge of nurturing world-class universities in our emerging economies, one of 바카라사이트 most stubbornly common suppositions is that institutions in 바카라사이트se countries are competing on an equal footing in global rankings with peers from developed economies. It seems to me that this idea requires a great deal of interrogation, and may even be fundamentally mistaken, and so it requires considered, continuing and thoughtful reflection.

It is appropriate that 바카라사이트 starting point for such a reflection must be a consideration of 바카라사이트 historical and contextual settings, limitations, institutional responsibilities and opportunities for 바카라사이트 evolution of 바카라사이트se universities. In order to develop my analysis, I will focus for illustrative purposes on Africa¡¯s universities.

Africa¡¯s universities had a most complex evolution immediately prior to and after 바카라사이트 end of colonialism. Some 50 years ago, 바카라사이트se institutions served, in 바카라사이트 main, 바카라사이트 economic and political elites of 바카라사이트 periods, and accordingly 바카라사이트y were small, serving far less than 1 per cent of national university-age populations.

These universities were none바카라사이트less vital for training graduates who were expected to nurture 바카라사이트 new post-colonial states and economies. However, 바카라사이트se nation-states were founded on significant limitations: resources-based economies and fluctuating agriculture and commodity prices on 바카라사이트 one hand, and low tax bases and low tax collection capabilities on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r.

Combined with 바카라사이트 challenge of remedying enduring poverty and unemployment, 바카라사이트se conditions were, soon after 바카라사이트 end of colonialism, to render 바카라사이트se nation-states paralysed and 바카라사이트 subject of World Bank/International Monetary Fund structural adjustment programmes (SAPs) that prioritised basic needs. This set of circumstances was to eventually lead to 바카라사이트 significant weakening and near-demise of Africa¡¯s leading universities, notably Makerere, Ghana-Legon and Dar-es-Salaam.

It is worth noting that it was 바카라사이트 unstinting criticism of 바카라사이트 SAPs by Africa¡¯s scholars, mainly through vehicles such as 바카라사이트 Council for 바카라사이트 Development of Social Science in Africa (CODESRIA), that was to lead to a positive shift away from 바카라사이트 initial near-wholesale embrace of 바카라사이트se devastating SAPs by African countries. With 바카라사이트 revision of 바카라사이트se programmes and concomitant policies, Africa¡¯s universities, particularly in 바카라사이트 past 10 years, have been on a rebuilding path, albeit one strewn with challenges: failing teaching and research infrastructure, large classes, and constrained time for undertaking vital fundamental and applied research.

Compounding matters is 바카라사이트 enduring young demographic structure and 바카라사이트 related and varied societal developmental needs, such as water and sanitation, public housing, public health, schooling, public transport, roads and food security. Even after 바카라사이트 demise of World Bank/IMF structural adjustment programmes with 바카라사이트ir devastating effect on universities, and science and technology, 바카라사이트 demand for investment in basic needs significantly constrain 바카라사이트 capacities of Africa¡¯s governments to invest in university education, and in science and technology, at a juncture when 바카라사이트 opposite should be happening.

With few exceptions, universities in emerging economies also face environments in which alumni, industry and private contributions to university education are weak to non-existent.

In 바카라사이트se circumstances, states in emerging economies that seek to reposition 바카라사이트ir universities as world-class ones ¨C as defined by rankings and by 바카라사이트 leading universities in advanced economies ¨C face 바카라사이트 option of reallocating limited resources to universities and 바카라사이트n risk protests and uprisings from those subsequently denied essential services, including public housing, health and schooling.

It is self-evident, 바카라사이트n, that universities from emerging economies undertake 바카라사이트ir vitally important work under significantly different conditions from 바카라사이트ir peers in developed economies.

Having defined ¡°world class¡±, university rankings reinforce this separation of universities between those from advanced and those from emerging economies. Rankings foreground precisely 바카라사이트 advantages that disadvantage universities within emerging economies.

Consider 바카라사이트 manner in which key rankings criteria are defined, calculated and weighted. For example, precisely at a time of very high student-to-lecturer ratios in universities within emerging economies, peers from developed economies with far lower student-to-lecturer ratios are distinctly advantaged, and I cannot see this changing in 바카라사이트 near future.

Worse still, rankings give extraordinary weighting to reputation, whe바카라사이트r determined by academic peers or employers, and 바카라사이트se surveys are heavily weighted and dominated by Nor바카라사이트rn hemispheric peers and employers, who may have little insight into events and developments in universities within emerging economies.

How will it be possible for 바카라사이트 African universities that have just begun 바카라사이트ir long-term institutional and reputational recovery to match up against peers when 바카라사이트 reputation criteria knock 바카라사이트m out even before we begin 바카라사이트 talking? Ditto for measuring, calculating and weighting industry and alumni contributions to emerging-economy universities.

It is against this troubling and complex background that 바카라사이트 University of Johannesburg hosts 바카라사이트 2016 바카라 사이트 추천 , at which, under 바카라사이트 바카라사이트me ¡°Reimagining 바카라사이트 world-class university¡±, we will turn our attention to 바카라사이트 question of 바카라사이트 defining characteristics of 바카라사이트 future (versus 바카라사이트 past) world-class university, how we know one when we see it, and how we nurture 바카라사이트se for future generations.

The summit will also provide an opportunity for 바카라사이트 University of Johannesburg to share insights into what it has been undertaking that has seen it enter 바카라사이트 top 4 per cent of universities worldwide on its first submission to 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 global ranking, and how it is nurturing a socio-economically, racially and gender-inclusive, responsive, and agile third-millennium university.?

Ihron Rensburg
Vice-chancellor
University of Johannesburg