The 22nd Conference of Rectors, Vice Chancellors and Presidents of African Universities, COREVIP, has begun in Windhoek, Namibia, hosted by the University of Namibia (UNAM) in collaboration with the Association of African Universities (AAU).
Official opening
As she formally opened the 2023 COREVIP, Namibia’s Minister of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation, Dr Itah Kandji-Murangi, made a call for inclusive and high-quality education across the continent of Africa, stating that “Nation’s higher education systems are the seats of knowledge creation, skills development, and new inventions.”
She added that since gaining independence in 1990, the Namibian government has prioritised education, including higher education, stating that in the 2023/24 National Budget N$3.8 billion were allocated to higher education, technology, and innovation from the N$16.8 billion allocated to the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture.
The Minister also cautioned that despite the investment in higher education, access to equity is still a big challenge, thus this conference should serve way “to share international experiences, forge links and collaboration as we interrogate challenges that confront the African higher education systems, with the view to achieve relevance, responsiveness, and excellence.”
Professor Kenneth Matengu, Vice Chancellor of the host university (UNAM), emphasised the significance of advancing excellence in higher education by pointing out that many Africans still lack access to it and by stating that there is a link between university rankings and national economies.
Matengu drew attention to challenges affecting basic education on the continent such as the lack of electricity, noting that students only have a chance to study when they are in school and do not have that opportunity back at home.
Additionally, the president of the AAU Governing Board, Professor Saeed Bakri Osman, also stressed that it is important that key stakeholders of African Higher Education convene to discuss issues pertaining to the sector because COREVIP provides a unique opportunity for such deliberations.
The 4-day event
The conference under the overall theme: “Advancing Excellence in African Higher Education” is scheduled for four days, 04 – 07 July 2023, and will include keynote presentations, panel sessions, and exhibitions among several engaging and learning opportunities.
The conference seeks to sharply focus on excellence and successful initiatives, interventions, and outcomes in African higher education by highlighting the key enabling elements within the sub-themes: Doctoral Education, Institutional Differentiation, funding, and financing amongst others.
The Conference of Rectors, Vice Chancellors, and Presidents of African Universities is held once every 2-years.
Original Story By: Suama Shingenge
Suama Shingenge is a final-year media intern student at the University of Namibia.
