Finding reliable sources of funding has been a perennial problem for African researchers. A long-term lack of interest in university research means that few countries have substantial national research grants open to scientists.
UGANDA
A paralysed science system means that Uganda's desire to fund a landmark project out of its own coffers could backfire. A science ministry is needed to tackle fragmentation of research between government departments that is damaging the country’s entire science system.
GLOBAL
Making access to science a human right is a worthy goal, but how can it be enshrined? And will it really deliver? Are developed nations ethically bound to improve the availability of scientific data and to increase the capacity of poorer nations to conduct their own research?
AFRICA
Without long-term planning and aggressive policy interventions, the tertiary education participation rate in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is unlikely to keep up with the demand from the region's 276-million strong population, let alone match the progress of regions such as East Asia and the Pacific or participation rates in the rest of the world.
ETHIOPIA
As a signatory to the Millennium Development Goals, Ethiopia pledged to pursue a series of benchmarks and targets relating to gender equality. The targets aim to empower women and eliminate gender disparity in all levels of education by 2015. But despite vast expansion of higher education, female students remain chronically underrepresented.
GLOBAL
A Ugandan report suggests that policy-makers' interest in science and technology is growing. But they need support to turn it into action. The lessons of the report are significant, and not only for Uganda.
AFRICA
Since the advent of the knowledge economy society, higher education has been seen as a major contributor to poverty reduction and sustainable human development. Over the past two decades, many regional organisations have invested in the revitalisation and further development of their higher education systems, in order to benefit from the opportunities offered by the knowledge economy.
SOUTH AFRICA
The Protection of Information Bill, which was passed by South Africa's national assembly with a majority vote on 22 November, has raised the ire of researchers, who have slammed it as a threat to democracy and academic freedom.BOTSWANA
After years of delays, both the Botswana International University of Science and Technology and the Oodi College of Applied Arts and Technology are to open next year. The new institutions will give a major boost to the country's ability to produce high-level skills.SENEGAL
The phenomenon of European, American and Canadian universities, or some of their programmes, setting up campuses in Senegal is one that keeps on growing, for a number of reasons. Some argue that one driver of the trend is an attempt on the part of Western nations to curb immigration of young people eager to pursue studies abroad.
