Create conditions to attract young scholars

The Association of African Universities (AAU) on Monday called on African governments to create the enabling conditions to attract and retain qualified young scholars in the academic field to transform educational institutions across the continent.

While encouraging experienced staff to remain at post to serve as role models for the younger generations, "this it believes would also reduce the brain drain facing African universities."

The AAU made these recommendations during its tenth general conference held in Nairobi, Kenya under the theme, 'African Universities and the challenges of knowledge creation and application in the New century.'

Mrs Victoria Duah, of the AAU Accra office told the Ghana News Agency in Accra that President Daniel T. Arap Moi of Kenya opened the conference. Other speakers include; Professor Jairam Reddy of South Africa, Prof G. Olalere Ajayi of Nigeria, Prof Ruth Meena of Tanzania and Dr Mokhtar Annaki of Morocco.

Mrs Duah noted that the conference urged African governments to revitalise and equip universities to meet modern educational challenges and requirements for the job markets at home.

She said the AAU urged African government's to acknowledge the roles and capabilities of African universities to solve the continents numerous problems. "This would encourage the universities to evolve more innovative, democratic and effective administrative and academic structures to meet the manpower needs of the continent."

The over 250 delegates recommended to African governments to reduce taxation on Information Technology equipment for use in institutions of higher learning. It called for the introduction of Information and Communication Technologies at the lowest levels of education while higher learning institutions promote its optimal use.

The AAU also called for active collaboration between public and private universities, to enhance effective use of available human and financial resources and share experiences to minimise cost. It tasked educational institutions to be pro-active in combating the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the challenges it poses to human and economic development.

A twelve- point declaration adopted at the end of the conference urged African universities to strive to create an institutional environment that will foster the "development of the mind, spirit and inculcate responsible citizenship into students." The AAU declarations urged African governments to continue to assume the prime responsibility for sustaining their universities, in partnership with other stakeholders.

African universities were also challenged to give priority to effective and positive participation in the global creation, exchange and application of knowledge and exploit the potential of information and communication revolution to enhance teaching.