26 January 2023  Issue No: 390

To regain legitimacy as a leading continental organisation, the African Union needs to decolonise itself and engage with and rely more on its member states to re-orientate its regional higher education policy processes to African issues instead of excessive financial dependency on external actors.

Eight months ago, Dr Sylvie Mucyo became the first woman to lead the biggest academic institution, Rwanda Polytechnic, that brings together eight regional polytechnic centres. Created seven years ago, Rwanda Polytechnic was tasked to implement technical and vocational education and training skills development across the country.

A number of poor students in federal government-run universities in Nigeria are facing disruptions in their studies in 2023 after many institutions increased their tuition fees by 100% to 200%. While the increment may force some underprivileged students out of school, others may have to defer their studies.

Universities will continue to play a significant role in addressing the impact of climate change, promoting sustainability and providing roadmaps towards mitigation and adaptation methods during 2023. Climatologists in Africa have drawn up their lists of priorities, given the region’s unique challenges.

As the movie industry celebrates artists and their creativity and cinematic flair during its award season, Ousmane Sembène’s cinematic contribution has received attention. January marked the birth, 100 years ago, of the Senegalese novelist and filmmaker hailed as the ‘father of African cinema’.

A study by Stellenbosch University and the City University of London has revealed that the relationship between South African science journalists and scientists, who are sources of information, is more complex than it appears. One challenge is the rise in science public relations.

Academics based in 70 low- and middle-income countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia will be able to have their primary research published Gold Open Access by a selection of Nature journals – at no cost – thus enabling their work to be permanently and freely available online for anyone to read.

A new report provides fresh details of the plight of hundreds of students in Iran who have been arrested and are facing extreme sentences, including the death penalty, and highlights the widespread suspension and expulsion from universities of academics deemed sympathetic to student protesters.

According to a university president, the current ceiling on tuition fees in Vietnam is too low compared to the expectations for and requirements of educational institutions – a claim supported by research which shows that students will pay extra if the quality of education is sound.

Elections can profoundly impact on universities and colleges. New leaders and parties have new political agendas, and higher education is frequently prominent on their lists, with implications for funding, teaching and research, staff and students, and interactions with society and the economy. For two weeks University World News investigated recent elections and higher education in countries the world over. Read the articles from our Special Report on Elections and HE below.