9 September 2021  Issue No: 327

New research shows that, whereas COVID-19 has dampened the international mobility of students from Africa, the numbers of those already pursuing international degrees remained steady. This creates opportunities for university recruiters who want to capitalise on African students’ demand to study away from home.

African universities at last may be shaking off the longstanding unenviable characterisation of not measuring up to their counterparts in other parts of the world when it comes to providing high-quality teaching, research output, knowledge transfer and international outlook, according to the latest global rankings.

The importance of effective doctoral training – including supervision – was highlighted in a recent report by the African Research Universities Alliance, a network of 16 research institutions across the continent. What are some of the key features of sound postgraduate supervision? In addition to an advanced qualification, a range of managerial skills, interpersonal and cultural competencies is required.

Three African students at the University of Oxford walked away with the top honours in this year’s awards for Rare Rising Stars after being selected from a shortlist of high achievers. The awards celebrate black African and Caribbean-descent university students, sharing positive stories and inspiring future generations.

Despite efforts by universities and higher learning institutions to fight a lack of integrity among students, academic and administrative staff, the issue remains challenging, and experts have called for concerted efforts to root out the problem. One particular challenge is that perpetrators can get away with it.

Is neo-nationalism a blip, the last gasp of those seeing power slip away from them? With nationalist extremists growing stronger during the pandemic, often abetted by developments in technology, and with universities often the first to be attacked, that seems wishful thinking.

Community engagement projects as part of higher education courses can help to tackle a range of complex and entrenched social issues, including tackling barriers of lack of awareness and knowledge in the community to achieve effective and sustainable inclusive education and special education.

The sudden and unexplained decision by the National University of Singapore or NUS to end its close partnership with Yale University and permanently shut down the autonomous Yale-NUS liberal arts college and merge it into NUS has caused anger and dismay among faculty, alumni and students.