Meeting the capacity challenge? The potentials and pitfalls of International University Partnerships in Higher Education in Africa. A literature review.

Description

Yes / The central aim of the paper is to examine the nature and function of higher
education in Africa, and to explore the potential for partnerships between institutions
in the Global North and South to assist in meeting the current capacity challenge.
The paper starts with a critical exploration of the contemporary shifts taking place in
higher education around the world and how this is transforming academic and
professional identities. Following this is an analysis of the rationales that drive the
process of ¿internationalisation¿ of higher education. We argue that
internationalisation and globalisation present both a challenge and an opportunity for
the rapidly expanding systems of higher education in Africa.
We then go on to consider how international partnerships might support the
development of Higher Education institutions in Africa and we present a critical
analysis of the pitfalls and potentials of such collaborations. We also reflect on a
long-term collaborative relationship between the Universities of Bradford (UK) and
Mzumbe (Tanzania). From this we take the view that robust and strategic long-term
partnerships can avoid neo-colonial relationships and offer potential for both
partners, but this requires institutional commitment at all levels.
This literature review serves as a foundational study, which will feed into further
papers reflecting on the evolution and practice of the partnerships in place between
JEFCAS (University of Bradford) and HE institutions in Africa.

Links & Downloads

1. Akuni J, Mdee AL and Thorley L (2012) Meeting the capacity challenge? The potentials and pitfalls of International University Partnerships in Higher Education in Africa. A literature review. Bradford: University of Bradford, Department of Peace Studies and the John & Elnora Ferguson Centre for African Studies (JEFCAS). Working Paper No 1.
2. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/5368

Tags

Higher Education Partnership

Africa

International university partnerships

University of Bradford (UK)

University of Mzumbe (Tanzania)

Internationalisation

Higher Education

Additional Fields

Identifer	oai:union.ndltd.org:BRADFORD/oai:bradscholars.brad.ac.uk:10454/5368
Date	01 1900
Creators	Mdee (nee Toner), Anna L., Akuni, B.A. Job, Thorley, Lisa
Source Sets	Bradford Scholars
Language	English
Detected Language	English
Type	Working paper, Published version
Rights	© 2012 University of Bradford. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share-Alike License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/uk).
Relation	http://jefcas.wordpress.com/publications/