8 April 2021  Issue No: 308

The World Bank has urged African governments and universities to set benchmarks for broadband internet connectivity to benefit from the global explosion of digital data and content. This will allow scholars on the continent and their counterparts in the diaspora to establish and maintain vibrant academic partnerships.

The studies of thousands of students are expected to be terminated following a decision by the Kenyan government to stop funding students who did not finish their degrees in the minimum time. The University of Nairobi has taken the lead by starting a process to deregister postgraduate and undergraduate students.

Some universities in Nigeria are in crisis over the selection of vice-chancellors. From Ibadan to Lagos, Oye Ekiti and Dutse, things have not been running smoothly. While others, like Lokoja and Ndufe Alike, have been resolved, there were problems as well. A former vice-chancellor shares his insights about some of the difficulties and how to resolve them.

Access to education remains a significant challenge for people with disabilities. Ange Theonastine Ashimwe experienced this first hand throughout her years in primary and secondary school. Fortunately, for her, she has found a caring university where she can pursue a degree.

Educational institutions and companies trying to upskill people need to upgrade their approach to learning and focus on what we know about how the brain learns rather than profiting out of giving people certificates for being exposed to information they will not retain.

Recent research shows that inadequate governance and the dominance of the vice-chancellor are leaving the United Kingdom’s universities dangerously exposed to market threats, but this isn’t the only nation’s education system facing severe leadership gaps. Australia and New Zealand display a similar approach.

E-platforms such as Studyportals and ApplyBoard answer the question that if you want to buy a book online you go to Amazon, but if you want to get an international education or study abroad, where do you go? Will COVID prove a watershed?

With human rights experts at the United Nations on high alert at the worsening, life-threatening situation of the Swedish-Iranian scientist Dr Ahmadreza Djalali, who has been arbitrarily arrested and detained in Iran, leaders of Swedish and German university associations have demanded his release.