AAU STATEMENT TO THE AFRICAN UNION
The Conference of Rectors, Vice-Chancellors, and Presidents (COREVIP)
of the Association of African Universities (AAU) met in Mauritius from
the 17th to the 21st of March, 2003 to discuss the theme: The Role
of African Higher Education Institutions in the Building of the African
Union.
This theme was addressed under three sub-themes, which were thought
to be key challenges facing Africa at this moment.
- The Challenge of Poverty Reduction in Africa: The Way Forward
from the Higher Education Perspective.
- African Higher Education
Institutions Responding to the HIV/AIDS Pandemic.
- Peace and Conflict
Resolution in Africa: The Continuing Challenge to African Higher
Education Institutions.
The AAU recognizes the historic emergence of the African Union as a
key continental instrument for addressing these challenges.
The AAU recognizes also that the African Union is engaged in a process
of consolidation. The Interim President of the Commission of the African
Union, Dr. Essy, informed the Conference of this process in his Keynote
Address. While structures have been established in the areas of conflict
resolution, economic and political development, capacity building, education,
and health, the Conference was made aware of further developments.
The next stage of consolidation is to take place at the next Maputo
Summit “which will examine structural proposals for the Union … in
order to identify concrete ways in which the Commission of African Union,
but also later, all the other organs of the Union (Pan African Parliament,
Court of Justice, Economic, Social, and Cultural Council) could benefit
from the intellectual and technical support of competent African and
international universities.”
The Conference was also made aware of major developments around the
New Partnerships for African Development (NEPAD). Likewise, it took note
of the role of current regional structures such as the Sahelo-Saharan
Community, the Economic Community for West African States, the East African
Community, the Economic and Monetary Union of Central Africa, and the
Southern African Development Community.
As the Association of African Universities, we wish to inform the African
Union, through you, of the following decisions:
- The Conference adopted its Vision and Strategic Plan for the
next decade.
This vision calls for the AAU be “an association of choice
for higher education institutions throughout Africa, and the voice
of the African
higher education community.”
- We are committed to work closely with
the AU and in this regard to develop structures through which we can
give effect
to our cooperation
with the AU. In recognition of this, we continue to value our
observer status in the AU.
- Fundamental mission of the universities
is in teaching, research and service. In grappling with the
theme and sub-themes of the conference,
the participants underscored the major role the African university
can play. To achieve this role, the participants agreed with
Dr Essy that “the
university must meet a number of prerequisites, namely academic freedom,
autonomy, equity, equality and shared responsibilities in administration,
[and] a sense of duty…”
- Since education is recognized
as a major agent of change, we believe that one measure of African
progress is the extent to which students
and scholars can move freely in Africa. We urge that the AU and its
constituent members should facilitate this mobility through appropriate
measures
at country level.
- We further underscore the role of the African university
as an active and responsible partner in development. To fulfill that
role higher education
has to be adequately resourced by national governments and, over time,
by the AU itself.
- The AAU generally, and the Vice-Chancellors present
specifically, commit ourselves to contribute to the success of
the AU through our core
business of teaching, research and service. Furthermore, we commit
ourselves and our institutions to good governance, fiduciary responsibility
and
the highest leadership integrity.
COREVIP
Mauritius
20 March 2003 |
