COREVIP 2019 Selected Papers
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ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES Conference Of Rectors, Vice Chancellors & Presidents Of African Universities THEME: THE ROLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN PROMOTING THE CONTINENTAL EDUCATION STRATEGY FOR AFRICA (CESA 16 - 25) SELECTED PAPERS Al-Azhar International Conference Center Cairo, Egypt July 8- 11, 2019 Selected Papers For COREVIP 2019 ii COREViP2019 iii Table of Contents Preface ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... v Beyond the Enclave: Expediting the Challenges and Prospects of Young Girls Doing STEM Subjects in Public High Schools in Rural Zimbabwe 1 Entrepreneurial Spirit of TVET Graduates as the Engine of Innovation — A Comparative Study between German Speaking Countries and Emerging Countries ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 21 Building Linkages and Partnerships Between Public Sector Research Organizations and Private Sector: The Nigerian Experience ... ... 41 Sexually Transmitted Grades and the Culture of Silence: Will Female Students Blow the Whistle? ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 55 The Place of Peacebuilding in Ethiopian Education: An Integrative Review on Educational Policy and Practice ... ... ... ... ... ... 73 Application of Education Management Information System (EMIS) to Information and Knowledge Management in Academic Libraries ... 91 The Changing Face of Higher Education in the Technological Age: A Critical Diagnosis of the Role of Africa Higher Education Institutions towards the Implementation of CESA 16-25 ... ... ... ... ... ... 103 Bridging The Digital Divide: The Role of Higher Education Institutions in Getting Africa Closer to the Global Information Society ... ... ... 123 Enhancing Mobility through Benchmarking Professionalization Schemes at the University of Bamenda, Cameroon ... ... ... ... ... 139 Harmonisation of Higher Education: Internationalisation Focus ... 149 Qualitative and Quantitative Effects of Quality Assurance Review of Academic and Support Units ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 169 iv COREViP2019 Feasibility of a National Policy on Research Data Management for Higher Education Institutions: A Case of Zimbabwe ... ... ... 189 Benefits of Research Management and Administration for African Universities – The Way Forward ... ... ... ... ... 201 v Preface The Association of African Universities (AAU) organized its 20th Conference of Rectors, Vice Chancellors and Presidents of African Universities (COREVIP) in Cairo, Egypt on July 8-11, under the theme “The Role of Higher Education in Promoting Continental Education Strategy for Africa.” COREVIP is one of the flagship programs of AAU that provides a platform for intellectual discourse which aims to reinforce inter-university co-operation. It is held every two years in a selected country where member universities are located. The 2019 COREVIP was successfully held under the Patronage of His Excellency Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt. The conference program was structured to include plenary sessions; parallel sessions; and working group discussions. The highly engaging discourse focused on seven sub-themes of the conference. A review of AAU programs and its plan in the next two years were also undertaken during this event. The conference theme inspired valuable debates and discussions that led to useful recommendations and interventions targeted at the AAU, Africa Universities, African Governments and the African Union Commission. The vision of building a prosperous and peaceful Africa is deeply rooted in the development of Africa’s human development capital. Education as the gateway to Africa development has led the African Union to promulgate various regional and continental educational agendas that address key issues of the continent’s developmental challenges. Higher education as the panacea for Africa development will enable Africa to take its rightful place in global matters. In this respect, scientific papers were presented at the conference. These papers were subsequently peer-reviewed and what is contained in this volume as Selected Papers represents what has been approved for publication after a rigorous review process. It is hoped that these articles will highlight the contribution of higher education institutions in Africa to the strategic objectives of CESA. The AAU is grateful for the financial and material support provided by the European Union, Sida, Carnegie Corporation, TVET Egypt, the Government vi COREViP2019 of the Arab Republic of Egypt and Al-Azhar University toward the organization of the 2019 COREVIP. Finally, a unique thank you is extended to the authors, reviewers of the selected papers and all participants of the 20th Conference of Rectors, Vice Chancellors and Presidents (COREVIP) of African Universities. Professor Etienne Ehile Secretary General 1 Beyond the Enclave: Expediting the Challenges and Prospects of Young Girls Doing STEM Subjects in Public High Schools in Rural Zimbabwe By A. Makuyana University of Zimbabwe Lecturer [email protected] & S. P. Mbulayi Private Research Consultant2 [email protected] ABSTRACT This study was premised on two fundamental conceptions including that (1) Socioeconomic structures in rural schools and societies disfavour the success of girls and (2) the success of rural girls in STEM education carry the potential of resolving the long-standing challenge of rural underdevelopment. A mixed methods approach, with an imbedded/nested research design was used. Findings revealed that rural girls who pursue STEM education face a range of challenges including gender stereotypes, socio-cultural injustices, high costs associated with STEM education, poverty, lack of funding opportunities, poor curriculums, non fraternised subject combinations and infrastructural deficits. On the other hand, a number, of prospects were identified including a growing base of post high school career options, willingness of young women to inspire and motivate their counterparts to excel in STEM education among others. Keywords: Innovation, Challenges, Prospects, STEM, Technology. 2 COREViP2019 Introduction Just like during the era of renaissance when philosophy and humanities were providing stimulus for socioeconomic growth and development; the success of modern economies is now dependent on the innovation and subsequent consumption of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) products and services (Atkinson & Mayo, 2010; Gonzalez & Kuenzi, 2012). Marginson, Tytler, Freeman and Roberts (2013) note that the success of STEM based economies lie in the ability of governments and the civil society to provide requisite support and funding for STEM educational programmes. The need to transition to STEM economies cannot be overemphasised. However, it is crucial to ensure that this transition does not leave anyone behind, particularly women who were largely left behind in previous development decades (Glass & Minnotte, 2010). Experiences from past developmental decades have shown that women play critical roles in marshalling family, community and indeed global development (Castells, 2010). It is therefore important to ensure their rightful participation in the current STEM movement. This paper explores the challenges and prospects of young girls doing stem subjects in selected rural public high schools in Zimbabwe. Analysts are agreeable that the hope of transforming livelihoods in all polities of the world is incumbent on the ability of countries to generate new ideas and transform them (ideas) into goods and services for both their domestic and international markets (Bybee, 2013; Breiner, Harkness, Johnson & Koehler 2012). Correspondingly, Marginson, et al., (2013) aver that there is growing consensus among research communities that the survival for both developing and developed economies is now predicated on the ability of countries to design and maintain competitive STEM educational systems that can reliably supply competent, productive and innovative professionals. Given this backdrop, it is perhaps necessary to identify strategies to reinforce and promote the uptake of STEM education in developing countries. To this end, Mabhanda (2016) notes that for success, efforts aimed at inspiring the uptake of STEM education should start from the grassroots level where children in primary or even those in preschool should be exposed to the basics of technology. Correspondingly, Ejiwale (2013) writes that developing countries should emulate to achieve a state in which all learners, not just those who already have a passion for STEM professions have easy access and exposure to technology. An Overview of Zimbabwe STEM Situation Despite the many political, social and economic vicissitudes that have been impacting on Zimbabwe in the last two decades, the country has continued to vigorously Beyond the Enclave: Expediting the Challenges and Prospects of Young Girls 3 Doing STEM Subjects in Public High Schools in Rural Zimbabwe pursue a policy of supporting STEM education as a pillar for socioeconomic growth and development (Gadzirayi, Bongo, Ruyimbe, Bhukuvhani & Mucheri, 2016). Musiyandaka, Ranga and Kiwa (2013) note that in 2000, the former President of Zimbabwe, the late, Robert Gabriel Mugabe launched a highly ambitious Computerisation Programme whose scope was to capacitate disadvantaged schools with ICT equipment so as to ensure that learners in these schools are not left out from participating in the new technology based learning. Musiyandaka et al., (2016) further write that as of 2014 the Computerisation initiative had benefitted over 1000 rural and