Strengthened universities key drivers in the development of societies
Altogether, 300 participants, including the leadership of many higher education institutions participate in the two days event in Oslo. The role of universities in meeting development challenges and finding solutions are addressed during the Norhed conference at Oslo and Akershus University College.
During the opening sessions, panelists expressed that universities cannot be divorced from politics, and research cannot live in its own world. Dean Patricia Kameri-Mbote from University of Nairobi proclaimed universities are places for solutions rather than ivory towers.
"Investments in higher education and research pays off in an educated workforce, increased knowledge, gender equality and better policy decisions. Capacity to produce new knowledge on challenges and solutions is vital for any society," says Jon Lomøy, Director General of Norad.
Producing knowledge
Norway’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Børge Brende opened the conference. He highlighted the importance of education.
"Schools and universities are where young people prepare for a meaningful future; where they enable themselves to take up a job and care for their families, and perhaps even start businesses and create jobs for others," said Brende.
The Norhed programme was launched in 2012. The aim of the programme is to increase academic capacities in developing countries to deliver more and better qualified candidates and more and better research.
"Norhed is not about transfer of knowledge, it is about producing knowledge together through collaboration," Lomøy underlines.
Universities - a power station
In his keynote speech The politics and geography of knowledge, Mahmood Mamdani, Executive Director MISR, Makerere University and Columbia University, talked about the World Bank’s take on education as an investment as any other business. Speaking about their previous cooperation with Uganda, he said the big picture got lost.
“Higher education was the least profitable investment. The healthy relationship between primary, secondary and tertiary education was neglected. These are not isolated islands. Who will train the teachers in primary schools? Who will draw up the curriculum for the primary education? You have to bring in higher education”, Mamdani said before adding, “universities are not a business enterprise - it is a power station - it lights up the country.”
According to Frannie Léautier, Senior Vice President at the African Development Bank, seven of the ten fastest growing economies in the world are in Africa - due to investments in education.
Strategic partnership
“How do we prepare our students for new thinkers, new ideas and skills for workplaces”? John Saka, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Malawi and current Chairman of the Southern Africa-Nordic Centre, asked, before adding strategic partnership is critical.
In another panel, John Ddumba Ssentamu, challenged on African universities to form partnerships; for staff training, staff exchange, student exchange and improving curriculum development. However, lack of funding makes limitation for many partnerships.
Norhed creates partnerships
Norhed gives the opportunity to establish partnerships between academic communities on topic of common interest.
“This conference bring all these partnerships together. In addition to an exchange of ideas and experience, this may result in new collaborations, new ideas, joint publications and new projects,” says Jorun Nossum, senior adviser for Norhed at Norad.
Universities in developing countries are faced with a number of challenges, at the same time as they sit with the most talented people of their countries.
“Through the Norhed programme we can support some of these institutions to maximise their potential, and really make an impact in their country,” Nossum explains.
Valuable feedback
In addition to the opening session on university partnerships for development, other sessions during the Norhed conference include topics such as gender and diversity in higher education and research and higher education and fragile situations.
The Norhed Conference on Knowledge for Development continues Tuesday 7 June with parallel sessions on education, health, natural resource management, climate and environment, democratic and economic governance, and humanities, culture, media and communication.
“This conference is a wonderful opportunity to take our partnerships further. Not only to facilitate for the diverse partners to meet each other, but also for Norad to receive valuable feedback and input on how to further develop the Norhed programme and guide future investments in higher education and research,” says Jorun Nossum.