Internationalization of Higher Education in Africa Amid COVID-19 Challenges
Integration of international and intercultural dimensions in higher education in Africa has been impacted by factors like brain drain, unequal exchange programs, and external research influences. The webinar discusses the character of internationalization in Africa, its current challenges post-COVID-19, and the future of the internationalization agenda on the continent.
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COVID 19 AND INTERNATIONALIZATION OF HIGHER COVID 19 AND INTERNATIONALIZATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN AFRICA EDUCATION IN AFRICA ANIE WEBINAR 2nd JULY 2020 PROF E. ABENGA Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology
OUTLINE INTRODUCTION: The character of Internationalisation in Africa The impact The changes after COVID-19 Outcomes of the current situation Moving forward with the internationalisation agenda in Africa
Introduction Introduction Internationalization of higher education is the process of integrating an international and intercultural dimension into the teaching, research and service functions of the institution. (de Wit 1999) It is a process, and includes both international and local elements. initially the purpose was to strengthen and consolidate Africa s potential in teaching, research, scholarship and innovation. Other rationales : Political- economic academic- cultural- institutional
The Character of Internationalisation in Africa The Character of Internationalisation in Africa International students mobility out of the continent has been higher than into the continent. Exchange programmes have not been equally reciprocal. Non-return of African academics and experts to the rest of the world caused brain drain and loss of innovations to other continents (Knight 2013,) There has been more technical expertise in-bound to Africa than the reverse. Research issues in Africa are set by external collaborating partners & significant intellectual benefits are thus secured outside Africa (Alemu 2014)
Africa Africa approaches internationalization in a way that reflects its history, culture and approaches internationalization in a way that reflects its history, culture and context and in a way consistent with its current needs, priorities and circumstances context and in a way consistent with its current needs, priorities and circumstances Mobility: greatest to Australia, Europe, China, USA & Canada bilateral partnerships in research, scholarship and innovation policy/model imports, (benchmarking) invitations to Western technical advisers to Africa financial support Student and faculty/staff exchanges Infrastructural development Human resource development Community service linked to
Impacts of Internationalisation in Africa Impacts of Internationalisation in Africa Improved quality of teaching, learning and research. Deep stakeholders engagement in national, regional and global issues. Provision of opportunity to students to access programmes that are unavailable nationally. Increased opportunities for faculty improvement and decreasing the risk of academic inbreeding . Provision of platforms for globally networked research. Provision of opportunities for institutions to learn from international good practices. Improving institutional policy-making, governance, student services, outreach, quality, etc. through collaborative experience sharing
COVID 19 ! What has changed? Travel bans Interruption of events. Closures of institutions Working away from the station E-learning Concern about Insecurity of international staff and students Unprepared international student support
Negative outcomes Negative outcomes Reduced/ no mobility (World Bank (2002) estimated that some 70,000 highly qualified African professionals, experts, scholars and managers with internationally marketable skills leave Africa every year . This is about to change.) Virtual and online conduct of business: capacity to use technology varies due to inequalities and disparities (regional, national, institutional and individual) International programmes effected: recruitment, completion, intercultural progrmams Funding for Internationalisation may be affected due to shifting financial priorities Student support division s capacity to handle the unique situation is challenged: management of discriminatory behaviour, cancellations of events, etc. African HEIs find themselves with limited intra-continental internationalisation activities in Africa and, Little embraced internationalisation-at- home strategies
Some Positive outcomes Regaining lost capacities though diaspora returnees More interest to be in Africa. A motivation to improve institutional systems efficiency and enhance intra -Africa mobility and collaborations Heightened use of technology and increased provision of the requisite infrastructure which is pivotal for moving forward in higher education enterprise. Enhanced awareness of the need for health and safety and increased frameworks and guidelines to assure these.
Positive outcomes of COVID 19 situation on HE internationalization Positive outcomes of COVID 19 situation on HE internationalization Provides an opportunity to consider and work towards : Turn Africa into the new destination for International students Enhancing Inter-African mobility programmes and cooperation within HE Enhancing Internationalisation at home through relevant policy frameworks, strategies and programmes Internationalising the HE curriculum to attract and enlist international students globally (re-tooling learning objectives & redesigning existing courses) Internationally accredited courses Leveraging on technology in provision of an international curriculum, research and cultural experience and maintain connectedness during separation Improve student support in tandem with challenges faced by international students and staff during such situations Improving African HEIs health and safety protocols
Going forward: Going forward: Need for committed Leadership for institutional culture to support re- engineering of internationalisation Leveraging on technology to conduct HEIs business, teaching, research , administration, etc. : enhance connectivity, make technology use accessible and affordable, build capacity for its use. Retain African diaspora returnees and attract more to bring back the internationalisation benefits home Dual purposing approach to funding internationalization Integrating ITN to institutional strategic planning, quality assessment, performance contract assessment An African Higher Education Internationalisation agenda and block African Mobility programs: Developing an Africa program funded by the African Union Commission to encourage mobility (long-term and short-term) of students and staff; to attract the best talents and to promote African higher education worldwide.
