African integration, online courses for top university?

Creating a masters degree in African integration and a doctoral school of the United States of Africa, and introducing courses delivered by direct video ‘streaming’, were among proposals at a conference at University Cheikh Anta Diop or UCAD, Senegal’s top university.

Professor Abdou Salam Sall, former rector of the university, proposed establishing a “masters in integration at the university so UCAD can honour its heritage of the pan-African university” at the conference on UCAD facing the challenge of African integration, reported Agence de Presse Sénégalaise or APS of Dakar.

Sall explained that the new masters degree should be introduced in partnership with the relevant ministries and institutions concerned with African integration, and he recommended improving facilities for students from other countries, including those from outside the French-speaking community.

He also said UCAD should support the project to set up an African foundation for research and science, for which proceeds from natural resources from all African countries could be invested.

The proposed doctoral school of the United States of Africa – École Doctorale des États-Unis d’Afrique – would specialise in the culture, language and diversity of African history, said Sall.

In another session Ibrahima Samba Dankoco, UCAD contract performance coordinator, told the conference that courses broadcast live by direct video ‘streaming’ would be possible this year, as a way of tackling the problem of student overcrowding, reported APS.

In line with the concept of ‘one student, one computer’, Dankoco was aiming to introduce streaming so students could remain in their rooms and follow their courses live on video. He said the initiative was a useful means of coping with the constraints arising from the lack of places for students, reported APS.

• • The higher education teachers’ union, Syndicat autonome de l’enseignement supérieur, is keeping up its protests against what it claims is the government’s failure to respect signed agreements concerning improvement of their status and working conditions.
  
  It called a 72-hour strike on Monday 7 March, to be followed by a strike on all university campuses on 10 March, reported Sud Quotidien of Dakar.
  
  The action was called in spite of legislation in favour of the academics adopted by the national assembly in February.

* This article is drawn from local media. University World News cannot vouch for the accuracy of the original reports.