Rethinking the traditional idea of the university for an online era

By Sharon Dell – Acting Africa Editor. In Africa Analysis, Deirdre Carabine of the Virtual University of Uganda is convinced that it is only a matter of time before online learning programmes are recognised as being equal to, if not better than, traditionally taught university courses, while in Zimbabwe Zachariah Mushawatu argues that student unions are pursuing party agendas at the expense of student interests.
In Africa Features, Munyaradzi Makoni reports on a new partnership between the University of Gondar in Ethiopia and Queen’s University in Canada which aims to boost the access to higher education of people with disabilities; and on the eve of the 2017 academic year we interview Universities South Africa CEO Ahmed Bawa about hopes for greater stability in the higher education sector in the wake of last year’s violent and disruptive #FeesMustFall protests.
In Africa News, Tunde Fatunde reports on what seems to be a growing trend towards the non-payment of lecturer salaries in Nigeria, while Maina Warura reports on a new Amnesty International report on the persecution of Darfuri students in Sudan, and Wagdy Sawahel covers the launch of an office in Tunisia of Harvard University’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies.
In World Blog, Philip G Altbach and Maria Yudkevich affirm that international faculty are an increasingly important part of the global academic environment, and consider some of the trade-offs for universities in attracting foreign academics.
In Global Features, Suvendrini Kakuchi reveals the secrets to success of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Japan in luring high-quality international students, who constitute half of the student body.
On Wednesday 8 February University World News, in partnership with The MasterCard Foundation and DrEducation, will be hosting a free international webinar, entitled “Are universities crucibles of transformative leadership?” You are invited to register. More...