USA Africa Dialogue Series - Report on the Carnegie/AU Deliberations on Continental Forum on the role of the diaspora in higher education, research and innovation in Africa, No. 7

Day 1, Session 4

Vice-Chancellors' Perspectives: The Role of the Academic Diaspora in African Higher Education

 

 

Professor David Norris, Vice Chancellor, University of Botswana

Prof Adam Habib, Vice-Chancellor, University of the Witwatersrand

Professor Firew Tegegne Amogne, Bahir Dar University

Prof Asrat Atsedeweyn Andargie, University of Gondar

Prof. Tassew Woldhenna, Addis Ababa

Prof Oyewole, FUNAB, Abeokuta

 

These university leaders discussed what can and cannot be achieved through engagement with diaspora academics and what they see as the drivers of, and constraints to, success.

The vice chancellors described how the visions of the diaspora connect to their universities.

 

Presenting their visions:

They talk about the game plan. At the most basic level, a relationship is needed. Two lessons: you need incentives that are financial and symbolic, and create conditions that would make those in the diaspora feel committed. They are ameliorative to problems that already exist. They cannot solve bigger problems. Those in the diaspora cannot establish the fundamental problems of teaching and research unless they stay for a long period, a minimum of six months. Habib says that if we are serious, programs have to be sustainable and longer, there must be the institutionalization of collaborations. Habib wants a strategic alliance, as in joint appointments for teaching and supervisory capacities. AU can do large-scale collaboration with China, Europe, USA for long-term collaborations with systemic interventions on fellowship and joint appointments. This will bring inclusive development, and it will allow us to reimagine higher education. Using China, Habib because of nationalism, but their citizens go back because they can work, earn a good living, and do great work.

 

Norris wants to learn from others, that those sent abroad for PhDs don't come back. They now have a policy if people don't come back, they ask them to pay back or seek their assistance. Priority consists of graduate training, research facilities are sound, but there is no culture of research. They need to attract grants, writing proposals, etc.

 

Oyewole

 

Suggestions have to come among the faculty, and there are overseas Associations that have programs for exchanges. You must set out guidelines, and create an office to manage the diaspora, create mechanisms for feedback; the fellow must be responsible to the University and not to one faculty.

 

Woldehanna

 

They do not initiate the invitations, which is a problem, Managing expectations can be difficult as it can lead to disappointments, there is resentment if people are seen as enemies to regimes,. Bahir University has recorded some positive achievements—university teaching hospital has benefitted., they are internationalizing and looking for more

 

 

Comments

1.You cannot build research culture in two weeks but over a long period

2.What is ameliorative can be curative.

3.There are 2,000 universities in Africa and the new ones will need those from the diaspora to survive

4.What are the fees regime?

5.How can a university exist without electricity

6. How can endowments be created.

7. To solve problems, it has to be a package of fees, resources, teaching, etc

8. How do we decolonize the orientation of funding. Should we look outside but inside to Africans.
9. We have to disaggregate the universities—some rich universities may not need short-term visitors. But to CODESRIA, the short-terms actually provide opportunities to publish travel abroad

 

Responses from the Vice Chancellors

 

--Look for funding

--Understand projects—to supervise, to do research, doctoral examinations,

--When universities are malfunctioning, a few people cannot fix the problem.

--To be an inclusive university, we need African entrepreneurs and rich people to give money

--Diaspora programs are good, but won't solve our problems

--Where are the states to take responsibility. Carnegie and others can only do little

 

 

Comments

We need serious engagements over the long-term, as in resource mobilization.

The rich Africans also have difficulties—they are being approached by too many people.

If a system is not there, palliatives don't work.

What options can we create to have a sustainable partnership?

We must hold governments accountable

Why are we not benefitting from Blacks in the Diaspora?

What are the trends of African universities for the mega trends, like the the 4^th Industrial Revolution?

 

Some solutions

Africa needs systemic changes

Different approaches—no silver bullet, no one size fits all

Institutionalization

Tool kit may be too restrictive

Link diaspora programs to clear development agenda

Deliberate imaginative policies that have to be institutionalized, and they need to be funded by the state, not controlled by big men, and done with partnership