Why HE internationalisation matters in Africa

In recognition of its many benefits, Kenyan universities are actively working towards mainstreaming internationalisation in their institutional strategies and education programmes, according to education experts at the recent National Education Conference held at Aga Khan University in Nairobi.

Dr Daniel Otieno, a senior lecturer in Kenyatta University’s department of educational management policy and curriculum studies, said several strategies are being implemented by universities across the country to achieve internationalisation. They include faculty mobility programmes and enrolment of students across borders.

One of the markers of internationalisation is a significant population of international students.

“Quality assurance and increased mobility are key in the efforts towards revitalising and developing higher education in our universities in the context of a rapidly internationalising higher education sector,” said Otieno in his presentation.

“To achieve international status, universities should provide quality education and training, promote scholarship, innovation and creativity and inculcate moral values for sustainable individual and societal development.”

He said there is also need to focus on teaching and research collaboration, maintenance of world-class international standards and international knowledge and skills transfer.

Demonstrated commitment

Although universities in Kenya have no explicit commitment to internationalise, he said they have demonstrated some commitment through accreditation to regional and international bodies such as the Inter-University Council for East Africa, the Association of African Universities, the International Association of Universities and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

Using the example of Kenyatta University, Otieno said the university states in its strategic plan 2016-26 that it seeks to increase its student enrolment by 10% through provision of adequate human resources and physical infrastructure.

“One of the university’s strengths is its vibrant partnerships with international academia, universities, agencies and corporations. Most of the departments within the university have collaborations with international universities. Students participate in various international exchange and mobility programmes with other universities,” he said.

Through the Inter-University Council for East Africa and the Association of African Universities, faculty mobility to various international and regional universities has been enhanced. This provides a vital opportunity for knowledge exchange and sharing of experiences, he said.

The conference from 15-17 April followed a March visit by Kenyan university vice-chancellors to the United Kingdom to discuss possibilities around inter-institutional twinning programmes. This would grant international recognition of programmes and allow students to earn concurrent degrees from Kenyan and UK universities. The linkages will also improve their participation in research, thus raising their global credibility.

Maximising change

Under the theme “Maximizing educational change: research, policy, leadership, technology and curriculum”, the conference focused on maximising change in education to provide every Kenyan learner with the world-class skills and knowledge they need and deserve to thrive in the 21st century.

Mary Oluga, a lecturer at Aga Khan University’s Institute for Educational Development, said to ensure internationalisation is fully achieved, university staff bodies need to be diversified to better cater for the needs of an international student body. Furthermore, teaching methods needed to be re-assessed.

“There is over-reliance on single teaching methods; lecturers dominate and there is a lack of student participation leading to low learning achievement,” she said.

“There is a need for education offered to meet expectations of students and employers both today and for the future, and this can only happen if the way faculty members teach makes a difference in how much students learn. Faculty require an enabling environment and support to promote an engaging learning experience for their students.”

Dr Kofi Marfo, director of the Institute for Human Development at Aga Khan University, said most students obtain information about prospective study destinations from online sources and so it is important that universities maintain a strong online presence. “Students make decisions to join international universities based on academic quality, academic reputation and international students and staff,” said Marfo.

Marfo said universities need to align internationalisation plans with institutional strategic plans, missions and priorities.

It emerged from the conference that models of collaboration such as dual degree programmes, where students work for two degrees from different institutions, can also foster internationalisation.

Arresting brain drain

Jackline Nyerere, a senior lecturer of education leadership and policy at Kenyatta University, said Kenya’s skilled emigration rate is as high as 40%. However, the good news is that the rate of brain drain was tailing off as a result of South-South initiatives (regional and pan-African institutes, intra-African mobility programmes), North to South investments (centres of excellence) and global dialogue initiatives.

“The biggest question that stakeholders should ask is: are we putting our best efforts into preparing our best students to leave the country?” she asked.

“Initiatives to improve quality tend to focus on scientific excellence. Teaching is not among the assessment criteria in most of the quality initiatives, partly because of a lack of agreed procedures, standards and measurements for excellence in teaching.”

Internationalisation matters

She said internationalisation matters because it subsidises the host nation through revenue from tuition fees. It also fills skills gaps especially in science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects, lends prestige to the host country and improves the universities’ global rankings.

According to Nyerere, global student mobility also comes with positive impacts in terms of employment and career opportunities.

She said Africa needs to make greater efforts to expand the movement of students and scholars within the continent, adding that universities in Kenya already have significant international engagement strategies with the aim of enhancing their international character and reputation.

Chairman of the Kenyan Commission for University Education, Professor Chacha Nyaigotti-Chacha called on stakeholders within the East African region to work together on promoting quality teaching and learning so as to improve socio-economic development in the region.