Producing female engineers – African universities must play their part

By Sharon Dell – Acting Africa Editor. In Africa Analysis, Eric Fredua-Kwarteng and Catherine Effah examine the issue of the underrepresentation of women in engineering programmes in African universities and suggest that these universities advocate girls’ education at all levels.
   In Africa Features, Wagdy Sawahel reports that the latest Africa Wealth Report shows a growing number of super-rich Africans – and they have the potential to make their mark as philanthropists supporting higher education in Africa; Tonderayi Mukeredzi writes about how the lack of sexual harassment policies in Zimbabwe’s universities is undermining the rights of female students; Tunde Fatunde highlights how recent changes to university admission rules in Nigeria may be the subject of a court challenge; and Kudzai Mashininga interviews a participant of the Africa Science Leadership Programme which is building the leadership capacity of mid-career scientists.
   Among a range of Africa News stories, Ochieng’ O Benny writes about an Association of African Universities programme aimed at providing postgraduates with employable skills, and Christabel Ligami reports on some recent developments in Kenyan higher education.
   In our World Blog, Patrick Blessinger discusses how open education has become an important element in democratising knowledge and tertiary education, creating a culture of openness and inclusion in society. More...