3 June 2021  Issue No: 316

Researchers have suggested five interventions to shift the practice in the production of scientific knowledge: decolonisation of the mind, knowledge of histories, the decolonisation of data, the decolonisation of expertise, and working in inclusive teams. In this system, African universities need to flex more muscle to create equitable research environments.

Medical graduates from various universities in East Africa have very little practical knowledge on the use of antibiotics in clinical scenarios and other hospital settings, a new study shows, and suggests that the situation might be widespread in the region. This, states the World Bank in a report on the economic threat of drug-resistant infections, needs more than a temporary intervention.

The decolonisation of higher education remains topical. It has been featured prominently in the titles of events hosted by universities and organisations working in the field of higher education around the globe. In light of its increasing prominence, have you considered what decolonisation means to you? In this article, I offer some reflections on how it relates to my personal and professional lives.

Dr Betty Kivumbi Nannyonga will become the first female professor of mathematics in Uganda after the appointments board at Makerere University approves her application. She is set on recruiting and retaining more women in the core sciences and has been campaigning on the ground to talk about the importance of the subject and to show women they can succeed.

Many of the challenges facing global higher education in the next decade are similar to those of the past 10 years, but with the added complications of the COVID-19 fallout. However, despite all of these, there is reason for optimism.

Benchmarking provides an independent perspective about how an institution stacks up compared to other like institutions. But it’s not enough to just compare. It is about understanding what is working and what could be improved and taking action to drive up quality.

The mission of universities in the years to 2050 is to take active responsibility in the development of the potential of all humans, promoting well-being and sustainability oriented towards justice, according to a new report by the UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean.