Improving University Cooperation between Africa and Europe: workshop on access to higher education in Europe and Africa" (17-20 November 2009) - Hoofdinhoud
Category: Eua News, Research News, Newsletter 20/2009
On 17- 20 November 2009, EUA, the Association of African Universities (AAU) and the Flemish Interuniversity Council Development Cooperation (VLIR-UOS) organised the first Dialogue meeting of African and European Rectors and a workshop on ‘Access and Retention: Sharing best practices between Europe and Africa’ in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia).
These events took place in the framework of the Erasmus Mundus project ‘Access to Success: Fostering Trust and Exchange between Europe and Africa (2008-2010)’, which aims to contribute to a wider discussion on effective inter-institutional cooperation between Europe and Africa, in particular with regard to student and staff mobility schemes, capacity building partnerships and government/donor support.
The Africa-Europe Rectors’ dialogue strongly emphasised the need for stronger relations between African and European universities as a mean to contribute to sustainable institutional development and to building teaching and research capacity. Also more multilateral coordination (between development agencies) in capacity building efforts, together with a stronger intra-African cooperation, was considered crucial.
Participants in the workshop agreed that investment in higher education is the key to societal development in both continents. While many challenges facing universities in Europe and Africa were similar, there were also notable differences. Whereas Europe is under pressure to diversify its student population to ensure equity and to reduce drop-out rates, African universities face the challenges of massively expanding their higher education systems, with limited human and financial resources.
The outcomes of the Rectors’ dialogue and the ‘Access and Retention workshop’ will be available, together with the presentations given, on the project website.
Published on: Friday, 27 November 2009 11:43