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ANNUAL REPORT 1998-1999
December 1999
4. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION 4.1.
Meetings attended by AAU staff during the year
4.1.1. CHEPS/NIFU/NUFFIC/NEDA Workshops and Conference
The AAU was represented by the Secretary General
and the Director of Research at a workshop organized by CHEPS and NIFU,
in Oslo, in April 1999, on the theme: A survey of African Higher Education
Systems :The role of the university in the development of
sustainable socioeconomic structures in Sub-Saharan Africa. This
was followed by a workshop and conference on Financing of HigherEducation
in
Africa,
organized
by NUFFIC and CHEPS in the Hague. These events were attended by numerous
representatives of African higher education institutions and major donor
agencies, and were expected to inform and influence Dutch policy makers
about the urgent need to finance higher education in the continent, as
well as to mobilize the European Commission to consider Higher Education
within the post- Lome IV Treaty.
4.1.2. IAUP Africa Region Conference
The AAU was represented by the Secretary-General,
Prof. N. Matos and the Senior Programme Officer for Programmes & Cooperation,
Prof. G. O. S. Ekhaguere at the IAUP Africa Region Conference held in Accra,
June 9-11, 1999. The Secretary-General addressed the meeting on behalf
of the AAU.
4.1.3. Launching of book "Facing the Challenges
of Regionalism in Africa"
The launching was organized by the University of
Ghana, Legon and the book was the result of a regional workshop held to
discuss the proposal for establishing a Regional Centre on Population Studies.
The workshop was organized by the University of Ghana, and sponsored by
the AAU and the European Union. The AAU Executive Board declared its support
to this initiative during its 51st meeting in Lusaka, Zambia,
in January 1997.
4.1.4. Quality Assessment and Evaluation mission
in South Africa
As part of the implementation of the decision taken
at the 9th General Conference for the AAU to develop
capacity to assist universities in this important domain, the AAU was represented
in August 1998 within a team of external evaluators assembled by the South
African Committee of Vice Chancellors (SAUVCA) to evaluate MEDUNSA (Medical
University of South Africa). The purpose of this participation was to familiarize
the AAU with the process of Quality Assurance being undertaken in South
Africa, and enable the Secretariat to appoint academicians from other African
countries to join future teams. Ultimately, the objective is to learn from
existing experiences and extend them to other countries or institutions
willing to initiate Quality Assurance processes.
4.1.5. World Conference on Higher Education (WCHE)
The AAU was represented at the World Conference on
Higher Education held in Paris, in October 1998, and was involved in the
preparation and presentation of a Policy Statement on Higher Education
in Africa at the plenary session, which emphasized the importance of Higher
Education for harmonized development of the whole education sector. It
was also represented in a panel discussion on Staff Development in Higher
Education, having presented AAU's view on this important matter. The AAU
presented a joint AAU/FAWE paper on Women in Higher Education in Africa
and organized a display of selected AAU publications. The Association was
represented by the Secretary-General, Director of Research, and three Senior
Programme Officers.
4.1.6. Workshop on Finland-Southern Africa Cooperation
Following the exchange of correspondence between
the AAU and a consortium of universities in Finland charged by their government
to develop a proposal for developing entrepreneurship through inter-university
regional cooperation in Southern Africa, a workshop was held in Namibia
in October 1998. The AAU, having contributed to the definition of the agenda
and selection and preparation of participating institutions, was represented
at the event, and presented information on AAU programmes. The programme
is now in the phase of developing concrete proposals of cooperation, and
is being discussed directly between the cooperating partners and coordinated
by the Finnish partners.
4.1.7. Visit to Germany by President and Secretary-General
of the AAU
In November 1998, the President and the Secretary
General of the AAU paid a 12-day working visit to Germany. Whilst there,
they visited universities, government agencies and two private foundations,
including GTZ, DAAD and BMZ. Discussions held during the visits were cordial,
and information about the institutions visited was obtained. AAU team learned
from the visit that besides funds made available under bilateral and intergovernmental
agreements, German funds are exclusively provided to German institutions
and professors who intend to carry out programmes in partnership with foreigners.
In this context, there are no prospects for other funding to the AAU, besides
the current support of 10 scholarship grants for student exchanges each
year.
4.1.8. Meeting of the Working Group on Higher
Education
The 12th meeting of the WGHE was held in Ouagadougou,
Burkina-Faso, from 3rd to 5th November, 1998, under the theme: "Regional
Networks for Graduate Training and Research". The meeting was planned and
carried out as a joint activity of the WGHE and the AAU, and hosted by
the Université de Ougadougou. On the main theme, the AAU presented
to participants the results of a programme launched with financial support
of the WGHE to work with member universities in the development of proposals
for network-partnerships in graduate training and research. Seven (7) such
proposals, selected from among 44 proposals from institutions in some 37
African countries were presented. The WGHE commended the proposals and
agreed to write a letter of support envisaged to help the AAU and the proponent
universities in the fund-raising drive necessary to implement the programmes.
The AAU informed participants about its main achievements
particularly in activities sponsored by the WGHE, such as the development
of the AAU website, DATAD, and SUMA V. The AAU also shared information
with participants about the results of the World Conference on Higher Education
and the Task Force on Higher Education. A report on the World Bank "Partnership
for Capacity Building in Africa" initiative was also presented to participants
by the coordinator of the WGHE. The Université de Ouagadougou presented
its Strategic Vision and Mission.
4.1.9. Annual Conference of the European Association
of International Education
On the invitation of the European Association of
International Education, AAU attended the Annual Conference of EAIE, in
Stockholm, in November 1998. This conference was devoted to Internationalization
of Higher Education. The AAU took part in two seminars and presented two
papers on "Brain-Drain and Brain-Gain' and on "National Policies for Internationalization
of Education". Continuing the link with EAIE, the AAU has been invited
to organize a seminar in Maastricht, in November 1999, as part of this
year's Annual meeting.
EAIE was represented by international relations officers
of most major European and American universities and agencies dealing with
Higher Education. The main concern of this conference was academic mobility
and two main schools could clearly be distinguished: the European model,
concerned with moving and exchanging students, scholars and knowledge,
and in helping developed countries create and retain capacity, and the
North American (US-Canada) and Australian model, concerned with selling
their programmes and attracting "the best brains" as emigrants to their
countries.
4.1.10.Seminar on University Cooperation in Lusophone
and Spanophone African Countries
The AAU was represented in a UNESCO-BREDA organized
seminar in Maputo, in November 1998, devoted to exploring possibilities
for cooperation between higher education institutions in Lusophone and
Spanophone African countries, and strengthening their integration in the
continent. A paper on AAU programmes and possible benefits for the countries
in question was presented to participants.
4.1.11. Innovations and Reforms in Higher Education
A seminar on this theme was organized by CEPARRED
in Abidjan in February 1999, and an overview of the situation in Francophobe,
Anglophone and Lusophone countries was presented and discussed. The AAU
presented a paper on Reforms and Innovations in Lusophone Countries.
4.1.12. TWOWS General Assembly and Conference The second General Assembly and Conference of the
Third World Organization of Women Scientists (TWOWS) was held in Cape Town,
South Africa, from February 8-12, 1999, with the presence of over 300 participants
from the 5 continents. The AAU was invited to participate in a panel for
"International Organizations" and give an overview of AAU activities in
gender related issues, as well as inform them about the opportunities available
to women scientists to benefit from AAU programmes. In addition, the joint
AAU/FAWE paper prepared for the world Conference on Higher Education was
also presented by one of the co-authors on behalf of the AAU.
4.1.13. Workshop on Cooperation between European
and West African Universities
On the invitation of the Coimbra Group (a group of
33 old and prestigious European universities), the European Union and the
Université Nationale du Bénin, the AAU was represented at
the above workshop, held in Cotonou, Bénin, from 6th
to 9th April 1999. About 23 universities of the Coimbra Group,
as well as representatives of the European Union, and 33 representatives
of universities in West and Central Africa, and about 10 representatives
of student unions attended the conference.
On the agenda was the presentation of concrete examples
of international inter-university cooperation, and 4 parallel working groups
were held on:
4.1.14. Active Learning Network of Accountability
and Performance in Humanitarian Assistance (ALNAP)
The 5th ALNAP Meeting held in London, on April
22-23,1999. The AAU was represented by the Senior Programme Officer (Programmes)
who presented information on the AAU Project: Graduate Programme in Humanitarian
and Refugee Studies.
4.1.15. Conference of the International Quality
Assurance Agencies in Higher Education
The 5th Conference held in Santiago de Chile, on
May 2-5, 1999; The AAU was represented by the Senior Programme Officer
who is in charge of Programmes.
4.1.16. International Association of University
Presidents (IAUP)
The 12th IAUP Triennial held in Brussels on July
11 -1 4,1999. The AAU was represented by the Senior Programme Officer (Programmes)
who was an on-the-spot respondent to two papers presented in the session
on "Trends in Higher Education".
4.1.17. General Assembly of FAWE
The 4th General Assembly held in Nairobi on July 21-23, 1999. The AAU was represented by the Senior Programme Officer (Programmes) who presented a goodwill message from the Secretary-General and took part in the activities which were open to non-FAWE members.
4.2.1. AAU - FUMI Agreement
As a result of a dialogue initiated in 1997, an Agreement
to promote mutual cooperation and exchange of information was entered by
the AAU and the Federation of Universities of the Islamic World (FUMI)
in November 1998.
4.2.2. AAU - HBCU/Mi Agreement
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between
the Association of African Universities (AAU) and the HBCU/MI Consortium
for National and International Programs (HBCUMIC) in Accra, Ghana on July
28, 1999. The Memorandum of Understanding is to facilitate and strengthen
among other areas:
4.2.3. AAU - United Nations University
On August 13,1999 the AAU signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with the United Nations University.
4.2.4. Reviews and Evaluations of NUFU Programmes
On behalf the Norwegian Council of Universities,
the AAU organized a review of NUFU programmes at the University
of Ghana and the National Centre for Scientific & Technological Research
in Mali. Reviews were also undertaken of NUFU programmes at the Makerere
University, Uganda, and the Addis Ababa University and the Awassa College
of Agriculture, both in Ethiopia.
4.2.5. Secretariat for Institutional Support for Economic Research in Africa (SISERA)
The AAU through its Director of Research has chaired the SISERA Steering committee over the last year and in that period coordinated
the appointment of a full-time Executive Director of SISERA and led a resource
mobilization campaign, as well as the formulation of a strategy and an
indicative work programme for 1999-2000.
5.1. Funding of the AAU programmes
During the year, progress was made in obtaining funds to implement the Core Programme approved by the 9th General Conference in 1997. The main highlights in this regard are the following:
5.2. Membership matters
During the year, applications from five (5) African
universities to join the AAU were approved which would bring the total
number of member institutions to 151. They are:
- Moi University, Kenya - Technikon South Africa - Université de Dschang - Université du Mali - Université Mohamed V Souissi, Rabat
The approval of the application of a sixth was deferred
as there were some doubts as to the status of the institution. Invitations
for memberships have been prepared to be sent to all higher education institutions
including private and public universities.
5.3. Staff Movement
Mr. Zoumana Bamba, former Head of the AAU information
and Communication Division, left the Association in July 1999. He is currently
working with the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), Secretariat
of Convention on Biological Diversity in Montreal (Canada), as Documentation
Officer (Public Outreach).
Mr Yawo Assigbley, Information and Communication
Specialist from Togo is currently acting as Head of the Information and
Communication Division, while the process of recruitment to fill the position
is underway.
6.4. Staff Annual Retreat
A retreat of professional staff, senior staff and
programme assistants, engaged in administration and finances at the AAU
Secretariat was held in Akosombo, Ghana, from 6th to 8th
July 1998. The objectives of the retreat were the following:
5.4. Monitoring and Evaluation of Programmes
A scheme for the internal monitoring and evaluation
(M&E) of AAU Core Programme activities has been in operation since
1994. The internal aspect of the scheme involves the review of reports
by AAU programme staff at quarterly staff meetings. This culminates in
an Annual Staff Workshop, at which the programme activities of the previous
year are reviewed and work plans for the following year settled. The main
objectives of this system is to facilitate the effectiveness and efficiency
of AAU's programmes and projects for them to meet the needs of member universities.
The external aspect originally involved participation by External Consultants
and a Special Adviser.
Following an assessment, the external aspect has
been modified to reflect the build-up of experience within the AAU, the
need to involve AAU member institutions more directly in the process, and
concern to reduce the cost of the exercise. The essence of the modified
scheme consists in the reduction in the number of External Consultants
from two to one, the removal of the Special Advisor, the involvement of
heads of selected member institutions who will receive quarterly reports
and participate in the Staff Workshop, and the reduction of external participation
in the Staff Workshop from an annual to a biennial event.
During the year, the following documents were published:
In Addition, the AAU published in collaboration with
the IAU the Guide to Higher Education in Africa which replaces the AAU
Handbook. It contains entries for 46 African countries and 593 institutions
of higher education, and each country's national bodies concerned with
higher education.
The descriptions of education systems are based on entries in the current version of UNESCO's World Academic Database CD-Rom. However, most of the entries have been updated specially for the Guide. Each profile includes the following:
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