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Africa |
Botswana |
Historically Black U.S. University to Help Establish Institution in Botswana
Howard University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with
the Ministry of Education in Botswana to establish the Botswana University of Science
and Technology. Under the agreement, Howard University will provide technical assistance in the development of a campus
plan and in the development of undergraduate and graduate curricula in science, technology, the social sciences, humanities,
business and economics. Howard officials will also assist in the recruitment, selection, hiring and development of an
administration and a faculty for the institution, including the provision of graduate education, mainly at the Ph.D.
level, at Howard University for talented Botswana who are designated for future faculty positions.
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-Howard University News Release
March 30, 2007 |
Ethiopia |
New Universities Inaugurated
Two new universities began enrolling students in the current academic year. Dire Dawa University and Mede Wolabu University are two of 13 new public universities in the works and enrolled inaugural classes of 770 and 1,120 students respectively in March. Dire Dawa University is offering programs in natural science, mathematics, social science, language and business and economics fields. Mede Wolabu University is offering programs in 13 fields through faculties of business, economics, and health and agriculture. |
- The Ethiopia Herald
March 16, April 7, 2007 |
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Universities Across sub-Saharan Africa Link to Offer 'Regional PhDs'
African universities are collaborating to develop degree programs that will accelerate agricultural research and biotechnology development in Eastern and Southern Africa. The announcement was made at a conference on biotechnology, breeding and seed systems in Maputo, Mozambique at the end of March.
The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in
Agriculture (RUFORUM), made up of 12 Eastern and Southern Africa universities, has developed joint doctoral
programs in dairy science, food science, plant breeding and biotechnology, research methodology and rural
development, and crop improvement. After graduation, students will assume positions in research institutions
in the region in an effort to boost research capacity. Some of the universities involved include
the University of Zambia, Malawi University,
Makerere University, Africa University
and the University of Zimbabwe. |
- SciDev.Net
March 30, 2007
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Nigeria |
Government to Scrap HND, Reform Polytechnic Sector
The federal government announced in March that it was going to remove the Higher National Diploma
from Nigeria’s qualifications framework. While HND certificates will remain valid
and equal to first degrees for employment purposes, all federal polytechnics will now be affiliated to
universities and will award the Bachelor of Technology in science and technology programs in place of
the HND. In addition, 70 percent of the programs currently being offered by Nigerian polytechnics are
reportedly to be phased out, while many campuses are to be incorporated by local universities, according
to plans announced by Education Minister, Dr Oby Ezekwesili in March. Details of the polytechnic
restructuring plans, reported by the Daily Trust newspaper, are as follows:
- Daily Trust
March 15, 2007 |
Zambia |
First Private Science University Opened
The country's first private university for science and technology will open in July with a mission
of promoting research and development in Zambia. Victoria Falls University of Technology, based in
Livingstone, Zambia, will offer training in information and communication, engineering and agricultural
food processing. The university is set to open at a time when the country faces a pressing need for
science and technology skills. An initial US$375,000 has been invested in the project, which is fully
financed by private individuals.
- SciDev.net
March 19, 2007 |
Zimbabwe |
Faculty Exodus Halves Teaching Body at University of Zimbabwe
The University of Zimbabwe, once a shining star in
African higher education with a faculty roll of 1,200 professors, today has just 627 faculty remaining.
According to university Vice-Chancellor Levi Nyagura, speaking to a parliamentary committee, the university
is “now faced with a situation whereby some departments are nearly non-functional. I do not want to use
the word that they have closed." Professor Nyagura was giving oral evidence before the committee on the
problems being faced by the country's largest institution of higher education. He said the greatest challenge
facing the university was that of inadequate financial resources and the situation at the institution reflected
what was happening at the other state universities.
- The Herald
March 16, 2007 |
University of Zimbabwe Welcomes Chinese
The University of Zimbabwe became the latest African university to open a
Chinese language and culture institute. The new Confucius Institute was opened by the Minister of Higher
and Tertiary Education Stan Mudenge.
- The Herald
March 17, 2007 |
Edinburgh Uni to Take Back Honorary Mugabe Degree
Edinburgh University has started proceedings to
strip Robert Mugabe of his honorary degree, according to the Scotland on Sunday newspaper. The
move to revoke the president of Zimbabwe’s honorary title comes amid mounting international fury
over the chaos and brutality Mugabe has unleashed on his people. Edinburgh University has stated that
it is "reviewing" the 1984 doctorate for "services to education in Africa". The
case is reportedly a massive embarrassment for Edinburgh University, which awarded the degree to Mugabe
amid euphoria over his country's transition to independence and in recognition of his rapid expansion of
education in his country in the early 1980s. In January, Scotland on Sunday revealed that
Edinburgh was drawing up plans to change its rules to allow the university to strip recipients of
their honorary degrees. It is understood by the news source that the power to revoke honorary degrees
has been approved.
- The Scotsman
March 26, 2007 |
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