8 - African Universities and the Challenge of Research Capacity Development
Journal of Higher Education in Africa,
Vol. 2 No. 1 (2004): Journal of Higher Education in Africa
Abstract
Critical for Africa’s future is strengthening indigenous educational systems and institutions for generating and applying knowledge by assuring long-term public support with emphasis on research capacity. In addition to individual skills developed in research work, research capacity includes: quality of the research environment, funding, adequate infrastructure, research incentives, time available to the researcher, etc. In most African countries, conditions for research have been severely compromised as manifest by the generally poor remuneration, heavy teaching loads, inability to mentor young faculty, and in- adequate infrastructure. While the adequacy of public funding is a crucial con- dition, there are a number of concrete programmatic initiatives that could be taken by the higher education and research institutions themselves. These in- clude strengthening of graduate study, improvements in the management of research, provision of a “soft landing ” for young faculty, identification and concentration on “areas of strength, ” and pooling resources with other institu- tions. Special initiatives aimed at individual research capacity development include the Study Programme for Higher Education Management of the Asso- ciation of African Universities (AAU); the Working Groups and Institutes of the Council for the Development of Social research in Africa (CODESRIA); and the work of the National Mathematics Centre of Nigeria.
Keywords
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)BibTeX
- Association of Commonwealth Universities, (2001). Research management in African universities. ACU Research Management Programme Discussion Paper No. 1. London: ACU.
- Carnoy, M. (2000). Globalisation and Higher Education. Perspectives in Education, 18(3).
- Djangmah, J. S., & Anyimadu, A. (1997). Resources for enhancing university research and postgraduate training: A Ghana case study with a comparative perspective.
- Accra, Ghana: Association of African Universities. Unpublished paper.
- Mallea, J., Didou-Aupetit, S., & Barrow, C. W. (2001). Globalization, trade liberalization, and higher education in North America. Unpublished paper.
- Mario, M., Fry, P., Levey, L., & Chilundo, A. (2001, October). Higher education in Mozambique: A case study. Unpublished paper.
- Mkandawire, T. (1995). Three generations of African academics: A note. Transformation, 28.
- Mkude, D., Cooksey, B., & Levey, L. (2000, September). UDSM-B2000 and beyond: A situation analysis of the University of Dar es Salaam’s institutional transformation programme (Vol. 1). Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Unpublished manuscript.
- Musisi, N. B., & Nansozi, M. (2001, October). Makerere University in transition, 1993-2000: Opportunities and challenges. Kampala, Uganda. Unpublished paper.
- Schultz, P. T. (2001, October). Higher education in Africa: Monitoring efficiency and improving equity. Paper for Yale Center for International and Area Studies, African Studies and Economic Growth Center Conference on International Higher Education and African Development, New Haven, CT; also published in this issue.
- Shabani, Juma (1996). Research Management in African Universities. Accra: Ghana: Association of African Universities. Unpublished paper.
- Szanton, D. L., & Manyika, S. (2001). Ph.D. programs in African universities: Current status and future prospects. Unpublished paper.
- Task Force on Higher Education and Society (2000). Higher education in developing countries: Peril and promise. Washington, DC: World Bank and UNESCO. See also http://www.tfhe.net.
References
Association of Commonwealth Universities, (2001). Research management in African universities. ACU Research Management Programme Discussion Paper No. 1. London: ACU.
Carnoy, M. (2000). Globalisation and Higher Education. Perspectives in Education, 18(3).
Djangmah, J. S., & Anyimadu, A. (1997). Resources for enhancing university research and postgraduate training: A Ghana case study with a comparative perspective.
Accra, Ghana: Association of African Universities. Unpublished paper.
Mallea, J., Didou-Aupetit, S., & Barrow, C. W. (2001). Globalization, trade liberalization, and higher education in North America. Unpublished paper.
Mario, M., Fry, P., Levey, L., & Chilundo, A. (2001, October). Higher education in Mozambique: A case study. Unpublished paper.
Mkandawire, T. (1995). Three generations of African academics: A note. Transformation, 28.
Mkude, D., Cooksey, B., & Levey, L. (2000, September). UDSM-B2000 and beyond: A situation analysis of the University of Dar es Salaam’s institutional transformation programme (Vol. 1). Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Unpublished manuscript.
Musisi, N. B., & Nansozi, M. (2001, October). Makerere University in transition, 1993-2000: Opportunities and challenges. Kampala, Uganda. Unpublished paper.
Schultz, P. T. (2001, October). Higher education in Africa: Monitoring efficiency and improving equity. Paper for Yale Center for International and Area Studies, African Studies and Economic Growth Center Conference on International Higher Education and African Development, New Haven, CT; also published in this issue.
Shabani, Juma (1996). Research Management in African Universities. Accra: Ghana: Association of African Universities. Unpublished paper.
Szanton, D. L., & Manyika, S. (2001). Ph.D. programs in African universities: Current status and future prospects. Unpublished paper.
Task Force on Higher Education and Society (2000). Higher education in developing countries: Peril and promise. Washington, DC: World Bank and UNESCO. See also http://www.tfhe.net.