October 24, 2008
Virtual Network Planned to Connect American and African Universities
The U.S. Agency for International Development announced today plans for a virtual network to enable African universities to collaborate with American institutions and share ideas on partnership projects in education, economic development, food security, and health.
The Africa Education Commons, as the network is called, was announced during the Africa Regional Higher Education Summit, held in Rwanda, to promote the formation of strategic partnerships between African and American institutions.
The summit is a follow-up to a meeting in Washington, D.C., earlier this year among U.S. and foreign universities, and hosted by the U.S. Department of State, to discuss working together on development issues.
At that meeting USAID announced that it would provide $1-million for 20 grants to allow African and American universities to plan long-term partnerships — in areas such as health and science — that would speed development on the African continent.
Sarah E. Moten, chief of the education division of the USAID’s Africa bureau, said the network would allow institutions, many of which are isolated from one another, to share teaching techniques and successful approaches to partnerships.
African universities potentially have much to gain from partnerships with American institutions, particularly in building the capacities of their graduate programs, introducing interactive teaching methods, providing training and mentorship opportunities for senior faculty members, and bringing more women into academic ranks, said Silas Lwakabamba, rector of the National University of Rwanda, who is also on the advisory board of the Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative. —Megan Lindow
Posted on Friday October 24, 2008 | Permalink |Comments
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I would like to how how a College could apply to do this…
— Sjane Oct 24, 05:30 PM #
Visit the forums of www.chimpout.com for the truth about the savage negro beast !
— undertow Oct 25, 09:29 AM #
I strongly object to the racist comment and link in Comment #2 above. Hope the Chronicle deletes it soon!
— Sarah Blackmun Oct 26, 12:26 AM #
Why would the Chonicle of Higher Education publish such a link as the one noted in comment#2?
— William McHenry Oct 27, 08:23 AM #
The Chronicle should either delete comment no. 2 or post an explanation why they believe the value of not censoring this comment outweighs its hateful affront.
— Pete Oct 27, 08:39 AM #
#2 should not be deleted. The reality is that such impotent, fearful people are “out there” and we need to acknowledge that and see what it is that they deem important within their atrophied brains. Then, we get on with the good work, and carefully weigh the attention we give to this weak and dribbing piss against the full commitment to one’s enlightened efforts to srengthen the unity of the world. Anger is a rightful response, but we need to turn it into overwhelming action rather than let it bolster the hate groups that feed on it.
— enkaybee Oct 27, 11:42 AM #
#2 got his moment in the sun because someone paid attention to his posting. If we ignore such comments in the future there will be less incentive for people in that ilk to display their sentiments publicly. I agree with #6.
— solie Oct 27, 04:24 PM #
How can I contact either Sarah Moten or Megan Lindow to get more information?
— Jeff Oct 30, 08:54 AM #