How can cooperation with African higher education institutions strengthen its identity and position in the global knowledge economy? By Hon. Jesca Eriyo Deputy Secretary General (productive and Social Sectors) East African Community (EAC) ACA Policy Seminar For Mutual Gain: Euro-African Cooperation in Higher Education 13 th December 2013, BRUSSELS, BELGIUM 1
Outline of the Presentation Introduction of the EAC Role of Higher Education in the EAC Globalization, Migration and Development Euro-African cooperation Challenges facing Africa Global sustainable Agenda Potential benefits of cooperation Conclusions
Introduction East African Community (EAC) is the regional intergovernmental organization of the Republics of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the United Republic of Tanzania Established by a Treaty signed 1999, took effect 2000. Aims at Widening and Deepening cooperation among the Partner States for mutual and equitable development in the region 3
PARTNER STATES OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
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Role of Higher Education in the EAC Higher education plays a key role in human resources development and training of qualified individuals capable of adapting dynamic changes in the world of work and use of new technologies and innovative methods to establish more efficient enterprises and institutions that are efficient and effective in utilization of resources. Higher education through research and increased knowledge, can also help to address the challenges arising from population growth, limited arable land, endemic diseases, urbanization, energy costs, and climate change etc.
Students Enrolment in Higher Education and Students Mobility across the Region Partner State Enrolment by Nationality 2012 Total Burundi Kenya Rwanda Tanzania Uganda EAC Burundi 36,765 67 220 206 310 37,567 Kenya 10 263,430 56 690 8,316 272,502 Rwanda 129 35 76,459 219 1,469 78,311 Tanzania 30 357 60 178,598 612 179,657 Uganda 3 253 101 370 210,855 211,582 Total 36,937 264,142 76,896 180,083 221,562 779,619 HE Enrolment 3.2% 4.0% 5.5% 2.1% 4.2% 4.1% Although there has been a growth in the enrolment for the last 10 years in all the Partner States, it is still below the recommendation of UNESCO of 10% minimum projections for a country to remain competitive and to maintain sustainable development.
GLOBALIZATION, MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT Globalisation is no longer a speculated event, it is already occurring. More migrations taking place than ever before. 34.8m migrants between 1990-2013. Young people <20 years of age increased by 10% in developing countries as opposed to 3% for developed countries.
International Migrant Stock (in millions)
Median age of International migrants
PROFESSIONAL MOBILITY IN AFRICA Professional mobility in Africa is at the rate of 10.56% Latin America is 8.79% North America is 0.76* More illegal migrants from Africa to the Western World. Of mostly non professional people or not fully qualified people Some professionals migrate with the hope of getting better jobs but end up doing odd jobs, not related to their academic paths at all. Hence frustration and depression. Others though get envelope better positions and pay and really fulfil their ambitions and expectations. Source: Engineering & Technology Magazine: Professional Migration Trends 2011.
Cooperation between African HEIs and European partners Cooperation between the African higher Education and More developed countries will improve on the quality of labour into the global market, Reduce on the numbers of illegal migrants who are unprofessional Increase on the capacity for innovations both in Africa and in Western Countries Improve on the quality of products on the global market Ultimately reduce backwardness and poverty in Africa
Challenges Facing Africa Africa's challenges include: Lack of Human resource critical to transform its raw materials to high value products. (Agric, minerals, forests, water, etc) Very low or no access to modern infrastructure eg roads, railways, energy, water, sanitation, housing (EAC that's developed Infrastructure Mater Plan, Energy Master Plan, Agric and Food Security Action plan, climate Change Action Plan etc that require the requisite manpower and technology to implement. Quality health services is still largely lacking, nutrition is still a major problem with Infectious diseases still unmanageable e.g HIV AIDS, TB, malaria still a problem and NCDs on the increase.
Low Levels of Investment (FDIs from Europe) Source: Eurostat Pocketbooks 2001-2005, 2007 Edition
The global sustainable agenda: Green economy Africa still has virgin land and unexploited resources, cooperation in training Africans to utilise and exploit those resources would increase on Africa's contribution to the global market share and economy. Africa's relative performance in the global market has reached drastically low level in the past 30 years.
The global sustainable agenda. Globally, increasing participation in world trade has been a strategy for countries that have developed. However, Sub Saharan Africa's share of world trade has been declining since 1980s. The World Bank estimates Africa's decline in trade to be $70bn I.e. 5 times the $13bn received in aid and 21% of its GDP. The Asian share doubled by 27 % from 2006 Africa's share of global Tourism is only 3% (Source European Center of International Economy)
The global sustainable agenda. (Source European Center of International Economy, 2007)
POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF COOPERATION Cooperation with African institutions of higher education will provide mutual benefits which include among others: Open markets for the institutions in the West e.g. Germany Improve on the quality of research, not only for academic purposes but also for application in Africa and elsewhere. Such cooperation will make studies more dynamic and interesting Students exchange visits would enhance collaboration beyond what used to exist. Pen pals.
COOPERATION AND GLOBALIZATION Globalisation will require production of quality goods and services closer to the market. More German companies for example to invest in Africa as the requisite professionals would be easily available through such cooperation. This would reduce on the cost of the products as transportation and other costs would be eliminated Cultural exchange programmes Consumerism would be enhanced without cheating
CONCLUSIONS Cooperation between Africa and Europe in Higher Education is very important: Mutually beneficial Enhances quality globalisation Contributes to Africa s development Improves capacity on research and innovation of African institutions Will reduce on Africa s development challenges Africa vast potential in resources is a destination for FDIs Europe should invest in Africa Quality migrants rather than illegal desperate and less productive migrants
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