The University as an Actor in Development: New Perspectives and Demands 1

Abstract

This article addresses the obstacles hampering African universities from play-ing their needed role in national development, particularly challenges stem-ming from the unfinished agenda of national reforms and emergence of global-ization. It examines pervading issues of higher education within the context of HIV/AIDS pandemic and massive brain drain—two major issues currently confronting Africa. Using OECD countries for comparison, it presents demo-graphic, migration, health, and educational analysis for Africa. The paper un-derscores the presence of substantial differences between countries with re-spect to incomes, education systems, political institutions, and, in a more dy-namic sense, economic performance over time. It also argues that we are un-dergoing an integration process (through globalization) which is critically based on knowledge. It warns that developing countries are falling behind industrial-ized ones in terms of low enrollments, low quality of education output, and low retention of qualified persons. The article recommends as more sensible policy options (a) developing standards for “borderless ” international educa-tion and resource sharing, (b) mitigating brain drain, and (c) untying aid in favor of focusing on the development, retention, promotion, and use of local talent. It describes several model initiatives for each proposal. Résumé Cet article porte sur les obstacles qui empêchent les universités africaines de jouer leur rôle au sein du processus de développement national. Il s’intéresse particulièrement aux défis émanant du programme inachevé de réformes nationales