By Francis Kokutse. As pressure mounts on African universities to produce employable graduates, the quality of university teaching has been identified by the Association of African Universities as a key factor in improving outcomes. More...

By Tonderayi Mukeredzi. Government last week Wednesday contracted CBZ Holdings, one of the country’s biggest financial institutions, to raise US$2 billion through bonds to fund infrastructure facilities at the country’s institutions of higher learning. More...

By Gilbert Nakweya. Teaching and learning is yet to resume at public universities across the country as the unions representing the teaching staff had not, by late last week, reached an agreement with the government over salaries, keeping the studies of thousands of students in 33 institutions on hold. More...

By Christabel Ligami. Only five African countries have made their pledges and committed to the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund, or RISF, launched by the Africa-led Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology programme since its launch in 2015. More...

By Wagdy Sawahel. Despite the fact that two-thirds of African countries have policies and strategies in place for science, technology and innovation, the capacity of the continent’s higher education institutions and associated research centres to implement them remains very low. More...

By Sharon Dell – Africa Editor. In Africa Analysis, renowned author and academic Ngugi wa Thiong'o encourages every African university and government to become an advocate of African languages, as one step in building an Africa that is economically, politically and culturally empowered and secure in its base. Nickanor Amwata argues that the recent universities audit in Kenya presents an opportunity to restore the reputation of the university system and secure the long-term survival of the country’s universities.
And in Features, Munyaradzi Makoni reports on a study in South Africa showing that poor English language competence is hindering the academic performance of large numbers of second-language students but early interventions can help, while Ramadhan Rajab writes about efforts to increase the participation of women at universities in Somalia.
In News, Wagdy Sawahel reports on the Africa Capacity Report 2017, due to be released shortly, which finds that the capacity of Africa’s higher education and research institutions to implement science policies and strategies remains low; and Christabel Ligami interviews an expert at the World Bank about the need for more buy-in from African countries to the Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology PhD programme.
In World Blog this week, Margaret Andrews asks how universities might best prepare people for engaged and productive lives spanning a longer productive life, multiple careers, changing technologies and the new world of work. Read more...

By Brendan O’Malley – Managing Editor. In Commentary, Barney Glover contends that universities are the institutions best equipped to buffer us against the fallout from the disruption which is refashioning the economy, reshaping the way we work and reimagining the way we engage with each other. Ngugi wa Thiong'o encourages every African university and government to become an advocate of African languages, as one step in building an Africa that is economically, politically and culturally empowered and secure in its base. Paul Benneworth, Franziska Eckardt and Matt Bucholski provide evidence that allowing students to learn through research benefits them and universities, as they develop the kind of skills that contribute to innovation. Rosemary Salomone suggests the Italian Constitutional Court’s decision affirming the primacy of the Italian language in the country’s universities may offer insights to universities across the globe as they ride the wave of English in the name of internationalisation. And Lisa Unangst encourages California’s policy-makers to take the lead in promoting equitable access to universities, as an enrolment crisis exacerbates disparities in access for students of colour and lower socio-economic status.
In World Blog this week, Margaret Andrews asks how universities might best prepare people for engaged and productive lives spanning a longer productive life, multiple careers, changing technologies and the new world of work.
And in Features, Munyaradzi Makoni reports on a study in South Africa showing that poor English language competence is hindering the academic performance of large numbers of second-language students but early interventions can help, while Kafil Yamin reports that researchers in Indonesia, especially in poorer parts of the country, are grappling with a 40% cut in research funding due to an economic slowdown, but are adapting by pooling resources in university consortia. Read more...