Media Monitoring: Extract of Press News on Higher Education in Africa [Volume 2 (2)]

1. University World News.
   Views on Africanising tech integration in higher education (Africa). Research on technology integration in higher education in Africa seems to be gathering some momentum, although the primary focus is on exploring how particular technological tools are used to support certain course activities. To more significantly inform policy-making and planning, practice and sound theorisation, studies interrogating technology integration that transcends specific application contexts are warranted. Toward that end, a special section (SS) titled ‘Technology Integration in Higher Education in Africa: Philosophical, theoretical, and policy-practice perspectives’ is published in the British Journal of Educational Technology (BJET). Co-edited by Samuel Amponsah (the University of Ghana) and Teklu Abate Bekele (the American University in Cairo), the SS interrogates the philosophical, theoretical and policy-practice features and issues that characterise successful technology integration in teaching and learning in higher education (HE). The aspiration is to contribute to contextual (African) problematisation of the phenomenon, better inform policy and practice, and further research and theorisation on this significant topic. Read more here.
   
2. Namibian.
   The University of Namibia ready to assist Govt in tackling curriculum challenges (Namibia). The University of Namibia (Unam) has declared its readiness to collaborate with the government in tackling challenges associated with the implementation of the new curriculum. In 2018, the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture rolled out a new curriculum, ushering in various challenges during its implementation, notably with the introduction of the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Advanced Subsidiary (NSSCAS) level. This one-year course is designed to be covered in Grade 12, replacing the National Senior Secondary Certificate Higher (NSSCH) level. Unam vice chancellor Kenneth Matengu says no education system is flawless, and significant challenges exist within the current framework. “For that we wish to affirm our commitment to working with the ministry to address the major gaps in the implementation of the curriculum, especially the AS level, which requires critical thinking and higher-order analytics,” he says. Read more here.  
   
3. University World News.
   Dream of smart sustainability hangs on STEM education (Kenya). Kenya’s race for smart sustainable development is being impeded by low investment in research and innovation as well as a huge shortfall of expertise in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, according to a UNESCO report. The report, titled Mapping Research and Innovation in the Republic of Kenya, indicates that Kenya is only spending 0.8% of its gross domestic product on research and innovation, against a target of 2%. The report was released at the end of 2023. Like most of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya’s university enrolment in STEM disciplines is low compared to enrolment in social sciences and humanities degree clusters. According to the report, about 25% of all students are enrolled in STEM fields at the bachelor degree level. Of that cohort, 7% are enrolled in programmes in natural sciences, 6% in health, 5.3% in information and communication technology, 4.2% in engineering, and 2.8% in agriculture. Read more here.
   
4. Mail and Guardian.
   Alarm around AI is not warranted (Africa). When ChatGPT was released in November last year, it sparked many conversations and moral panics. These centres on the impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on the information environment. People worry that AI chatbots can negatively affect the integrity of creative and academic work, especially since they can produce human-like texts and images. ChatGPT is a generative AI model using machine learning. It creates human-like responses, having been trained to recognise patterns in data.  While it appears the model is engaging in natural conversation, it references a vast amount of data and extracts features and patterns to generate coherent replies. Higher education is one sector in which the rise of AI such as ChatGPT has sparked concerns. Some of these relate to ethics and integrity in teaching, learning and knowledge production.  Read more here.
   
5. Inside Higher Eds.
   AIs Enrolling as Students in Michigan University’s Experiment (Global). Artificial intelligences Ann and Fry will listen in to online courses before making their way to the classroom, ultimately eyeing Ph.D.s. Ferris State University’s newest transfer students, Ann and Fry, are a little different from their classmates. This spring they will head to class without backpacks, books or laptops. They also don’t eat, drink, breathe or have birth certificates. Ann and Fry are AIs created by the Michigan-based University, which is enrolling them in courses. The project is a mix of researching artificial intelligence and online classrooms while getting a peek into a typical student’s experience. “As the student and external environment changes and evolves, we need to make sure we’re prepared and ready to deliver educational experiences that are just as impactful,” said Kasey Thompson, Ferris State’s special assistant to the president for innovation and entrepreneurship. While Ferris State officials view the experiment as just that—an experiment—some academics are raising concerns about privacy, bias and the potential accuracy of garnering student experiences from a computer. Read more here.
   
6. Ghana Business News.
   KNUST, University of Ghana jointly induct 42 veterinary medicine doctors (Ghana). In a historic collaboration, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Ghana, under the auspices of the Ghana Veterinary Council, have inducted a group of 42 veterinary medicine doctors.The inductees, who comprised 17 doctors from the University of Ghana and 25 doctors from the KNUST, took the veterinary oath under the guidance of Dr Jonathan Amakye-Anim, the chairman of the Ghana Veterinary Council. Among the newly inducted veterinary medicine professionals were 28 men and 14 women, who pledged under oath, their commitment to using their expertise and scientific knowledge to advance society. Addressing the inductees during the ceremony in Accra, Dr Amakye-Anim praised both students and the schools of veterinary medicine for the momentous partnership. Read more here.
   
7. New Vision.
   Bugema University 75th anniversary fete to promote sciences (Uganda). Bugema University, an entity of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) church has launched a weeklong activity to mark its 75th anniversary celebrations. The university is to mark its celebrations together with its sister schools including Bugema Adventist Vocational Institute, Bugema Adventist Secondary School and Bugema Adventist Primary School which were started at the same time. Addressing the press during the launch of the celebrations at the university’s Kampala campus, Dr. Pr. Israel Masika Kafeero, the university Vice Chancellor explained that the institution was started as a ministerial training college in 1948. He explained that the institution then, was only training ministers of the church and teachers both in Luganda and English. He said the institutions all together have trained tens of thousands of learners who are out there contributing to the development of their countries in different fields Read more here.
   
8. The Star.
   Relief for TVET colleges as state releases Sh1.192bn capitation (Kenya). The government has released Sh1.192 billion to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions nationwide. In a statement on Wednesday, TVET PS Esther Muoria said it is a major boost for TVET institutions providing crucial support for tuition, training materials, utilities and curricula activities. “The injection of resources aims to foster an environment conducive to effective learning and skill acquisition. With the focus being on enhancing accessibility and elevating the quality and relevance of TVET, the funds will be channelled into various initiatives,” she said. The initiatives include providing financial assistance to individual trainees, a move designed to empower aspiring professionals in various fields. She said the government’s unwavering commitment to delivering employable skills through TVET underscores its dedication to supporting key economic sectors. Read more here.
   
9. News 24.
   TVET colleges implored to focus on programmes that create employment (South Africa). Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Professor Blade Nzimande, has implored technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges to move away from offering programmes that do not lead to meaningful employment and local economic development. Nzimande described the continued offering of such programmes by public TVET colleges as counterproductive. The call was made during Nzimande’s visit to Eastern Cape TVET colleges in December last year. “I would like to encourage all colleges to conduct an analysis of the local needs in the areas where the colleges are located, and offer programmes that address the skills required by these specific areas.” Read more here.
   
10. New Vision.
    Makerere University partners with tea researchers to increase production (Uganda). Makerere University has partnered with tea researchers from the National Agriculture Research Organization (NARO) to train tea researchers at Masters and PHD levels. The aim is to increase expertise in tea research to up production. The training will be conducted jointly with the Aarhus University Denmark. Officiating as chief guest at the project launch at Makerere University’s Food Science and Technology Department on Tuesday, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe said that the project is to bridge the tea yield gap in Uganda. Current production per hectare is two metric tons per year and yet the target of the research is for one harvest of six metric tons of tea per hectare per year. To increase production, Nawangwe said that it will be done through the development of local solutions that support tea to become resilient to the effects of climate change like drought. The local solutions include the identification of climate-resilient tea varieties, integrating nitrogen fixing trees in coffee plantations, water harvesting and management practices, among others. Read more here.