By Reuben Kyama and Eric Kabeera. Rwandan universities have embarked on an ambitious programme to teach Kiswahili, East Africa’s lingua franca, to enable the country’s populace to tap into regional integration. Read more...
UK initiative to enhance Africa’s research capacity
By Munyaradzi Makoni. Britain’s Institute of Development Studies, or IDS, will select nine African universities over two years to participate in a new programme to boost the research and teaching practices of academics working in agriculture, health and the environment. The British government is funding the scheme with a £2 million (US$3 million) grant. Read more...
Danish boost for research and PhDs
The University of Ghana has been awarded DKK9 million (US$1.4 million) in funding under the second phase of the Danish Building Stronger Universities programme – a partnership between universities in developing countries and in Denmark. Read more...
University regulator drafts law to accredit professionals
By Maina Waruru. Kenya’s higher education regulator, the Commission for University Education, or CUE, wants professional bodies barred from accrediting graduates in key professions and wants to take over the role, to avoid frequent stand-offs between the associations and universities. Read more...
War-torn nation’s universities desperately need support
By Wagdy Sawahel. Somalia’s higher education sector has been growing rapidly. However, lack of government oversight, low quality, high levels of poverty, political instability and security challenges have been hindering reforms. A new prime minister has raised hopes – but is likely to be distracted by numerous other pressing problems. Read more...
An Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel: Geography, Economics and Security
By Laurent Bossard. The attacks that took place in Paris on 7, 8 and 9 January are part of a global, complex, diffuse and multi-faceted threat of which the bloodiest zones of action are presently in the Middle East and Africa, including within the confines of the Maghreb and the Sahel. The emergence of Salafist Jihadism in this area dates back to the early 2000s. When the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) moved further south and jihadists arrived from Afghanistan and Pakistan following the events of 11 September 2001, terrorist activities quickly merged with the trafficking of weapons, drugs, cigarettes and human beings. More...
More money for higher education
The higher education sector is at risk due to lack of funding, the University of Witwatersrand said on Wednesday.
"The amount of funding available for students wanting to pursue tertiary education is inadequate and well below that of international norms in similar developing countries," vice chancellor and principal, Professor Adam Habib said in a statement. More...
Government plans biggest funding hike in years

R1 billion boost in loans, bursaries for needy students

What Major Obstacles Are African Universities Facing?
By Collins Mabinda. In the past few months, several African universities have churned out hundreds of thousands of graduates. Although there are scant statistics on the exact number of college and university students in Africa, it is thought to be between 3 and 5 million. And yet, even as the number of graduates from African universities increases, employers still insist that there is a shortage of key skills that employers are looking for. More...