Sh124 billion for Nyerere scholarships
Jun 16, 2011
The European Union (EU) has given 35 million Euros (sh124b) to support the Mwalimu Nyerere African Scholarship program over the next four years.
By John Eremu in
Stellenbosch, South Africa
The European Union (EU) has given 35 million Euros (sh124b) to support the Mwalimu Nyerere African Scholarship program over the next four years.
The scheme under the African Union (AU) aims at among others, promoting student exchange and stemming the African brain drain, Dr. Yohannes Woldetensae, the EU senior expert on the scheme told heads of African universities at a conference in Stellenbosch, South Africa last week.
The scholarship named after Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the first post-independence president of Tanzania for his strong vision for education and social action, will support 250 postgraduate students to study in another African country annually.
The beneficiaries must agree to work in any African country for at least two years after graduation.
Prof. Olugbemiro Jegede, the secretary general of the Association of African Universities (AAU), which is expected to take over the management of the scheme from a European agency said the scholarships will be accessible from September this year.
At the same conference, Prof. Ahmadou Lamine Ndiaye, said the establishment of a Pan African University (PAU) was in high gear. Ndiaye, who heads the AU high level panel for the establishment of the university said, while the headquarters will be in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, PAU will have centres of excellence in selected universities across the five regions in Africa. Each region has been allocated a specific theme.
Ndiaye said the University of Yaounde in Cameroon, will host the Central African hub that will focus on programmes in social sciences and good governance.
West African region will handle life and earth sciences and will be hosted by the University of Ibadan, Nigeria while Jomo Kenyatta University has been selected for the East African region which will handle basic sciences. Southern Africa region has been allocated satellite and space technology while North Africa will focus on water and energy. These two regions are yet to resolve where the centres will be located.
Participants at the four-day Conference of Rectors, Vice Chancellors and University Presidents (COREVIP) urged the African heads of state to urgently ratify the Arusha Convention, which will among others, create a legal framework to harmonise qualifications and quality structures cross the continent.
The conference criticised African governments for not doing enough to promote higher education and research and development.
“Africa’s economy has been growing by 6% over the past decade. But although education funding has grown by a similar percentage, 60% of the allocation goes to primary education,†observed Prof. Russel Botman, the Stellenbosch University Vice Chancellor.
“In one of the AU summits, it was agreed that countries should raise their funding for agriculture to at least 10% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and that of science and technology to 1%,†said Ndiaye.
“But it is only South Africa that has achieved this. It is unfortunate that our politicians make decisions and forget as soon as they leave the meetings. If we want to move forward, then African countries must bring their own money,†he added.
The conference on the theme: “Strengthening the Space of Higher Education in Africa,†was organised by AAU in conjunction with Stellenbosch University and drew together over 150 participants including donor representatives and experts on higher education.
Stellenbosch, South Africa
The European Union (EU) has given 35 million Euros (sh124b) to support the Mwalimu Nyerere African Scholarship program over the next four years.
The scheme under the African Union (AU) aims at among others, promoting student exchange and stemming the African brain drain, Dr. Yohannes Woldetensae, the EU senior expert on the scheme told heads of African universities at a conference in Stellenbosch, South Africa last week.
The scholarship named after Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the first post-independence president of Tanzania for his strong vision for education and social action, will support 250 postgraduate students to study in another African country annually.
The beneficiaries must agree to work in any African country for at least two years after graduation.
Prof. Olugbemiro Jegede, the secretary general of the Association of African Universities (AAU), which is expected to take over the management of the scheme from a European agency said the scholarships will be accessible from September this year.
At the same conference, Prof. Ahmadou Lamine Ndiaye, said the establishment of a Pan African University (PAU) was in high gear. Ndiaye, who heads the AU high level panel for the establishment of the university said, while the headquarters will be in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, PAU will have centres of excellence in selected universities across the five regions in Africa. Each region has been allocated a specific theme.
Ndiaye said the University of Yaounde in Cameroon, will host the Central African hub that will focus on programmes in social sciences and good governance.
West African region will handle life and earth sciences and will be hosted by the University of Ibadan, Nigeria while Jomo Kenyatta University has been selected for the East African region which will handle basic sciences. Southern Africa region has been allocated satellite and space technology while North Africa will focus on water and energy. These two regions are yet to resolve where the centres will be located.
Participants at the four-day Conference of Rectors, Vice Chancellors and University Presidents (COREVIP) urged the African heads of state to urgently ratify the Arusha Convention, which will among others, create a legal framework to harmonise qualifications and quality structures cross the continent.
The conference criticised African governments for not doing enough to promote higher education and research and development.
“Africa’s economy has been growing by 6% over the past decade. But although education funding has grown by a similar percentage, 60% of the allocation goes to primary education,†observed Prof. Russel Botman, the Stellenbosch University Vice Chancellor.
“In one of the AU summits, it was agreed that countries should raise their funding for agriculture to at least 10% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and that of science and technology to 1%,†said Ndiaye.
“But it is only South Africa that has achieved this. It is unfortunate that our politicians make decisions and forget as soon as they leave the meetings. If we want to move forward, then African countries must bring their own money,†he added.
The conference on the theme: “Strengthening the Space of Higher Education in Africa,†was organised by AAU in conjunction with Stellenbosch University and drew together over 150 participants including donor representatives and experts on higher education.