During the first phase of the project, six high level experts in fields related to globalisation in higher education will be chosen by the project partners to draft papers analysing the implications of globalisation on learning and the position of African universities vis-a-vis other actors in the sector. They will be targeted at African universities leaders and theirprinciple advisors.
African Universities will then assess their capacity to deliver graduates who are equipped to tap into global knowledge resources and to apply what they have learned in support of local and regional development and their position in the market vis-a-vis other providers of higher education in a globalising world. Finally, a seminar will be organised in the Netherlands, where the experts and the African partners will exchange the findings of the papers and self assessments with a view of concluding on a shared action perspective.
Building on the insights gained in the first part of the project, the African partners will draft strategy papers aimed at identifying the measures required in order to avert the threats and seize the opportunities of globalisation with regard to the institutes’ capacity to deliver students that the country needs.
All strategy papers will be posted in a virtual meeting space where experts and other African and European partners will give feedback on strategy papers. Finally, on the basis of the feedback, the reports will be adopted outlining the strategies to follow by each African University that will help them better face globalisation.
During a three-day seminar in Africa, the African partners will present their strategies. Together with the European partners they will identify ways to build the capacities required to implement them. Ideas for a joint action plan in support of the strategies will be drawn up. Furthermore, all partners will explore synergies and opportunities for collaboration in the future. The insights gained in this process will be shared with other African Universities through a publication.
The project will bring in high level expertise and evidence on the impacts of globalisation on tertiary education, and exchanging ideas within a network of peers who face similar challenges. Top management of the participating African universities will gain invaluable insight into trends concerning global knowledge production and implications for universities in Africa and their approach to education.
