Report of Study Visits to Egypt and the UK by NUC Strategy Advisory Committee page 1 Signature page Delegate Signature Professor Peter A. Okebukola Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i Professor Nimi Briggs Professor Michael Faborode Ibukun Olagbemiro Olufemi Jenrola Adebayo Report of Study Visits to Egypt and the UK by NUC Strategy Advisory Committee page 2 Executive Summary he National Universities Commission (NUC)’s 2018-2023 Blueprint for the Revitalisation of the Nigerian University System initiated and superintended by H.A.E. Professor Abubakar Adamu T Rasheed, mni, MFR, FNAL, Executive Secretary of NUC, rests on sixteen drivers including access, quality, relevance and funding. A latent component of these drivers is the harnessing of good practices from all over the world from where lessons can be learned for possible adoption for the Nigerian context. It was in the spirit of seeking such good practices that the Executive Secretary approved that the NUC Strategy Advisory Committee (STRADVCOM) undertake a study visit of the university systems of selected countries including Egypt and the UK. The objectives of the first phase of the study visits were to: undertake a critical onsite assessment of the Egyptian and UK university systems; draw lessons for the revitalisation of the Nigerian university system and the advisory work of STRADVCOM; and seek areas of possible collaboration between the Supreme Council of Universities (SUC) of Egypt, the National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Education (NAQAAE) of Egypt and the Quality Assurance Authority (QAA) of the UK as well as with universities in Nigeria. Over 40 lessons were learned with significant potential for the implementation of the 2018-2023 NUC Blueprint. All the sites visited also learned lessons from NUC for improving their delivery systems and productivity. All expressed the desire to enter into partnership with NUC, via Memoranda of Understanding (MoU). Highlights of conclusions are: • Supreme Council of Universities: eager to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NUC to accelerate partnership between both bodies for a mutually-beneficial relationship particularly in areas of strength of both organisations. • The National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Education (NAQAAE): authorities were impressed with the commonalities in the accreditation procedures of NAQAAE with those of NUC but learned the lesson of applying sanctions on institutions and programmes that underperform in accreditation. Such sanctions encourage universities to take steps towards remediation. NAQAAE is willing to partner NUC in implementing the Blueprint in the area of quality assurance. • Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) of the UK: QAA expressed its willingness to support NUC in the implementation of the 2018-2023 Blueprint. It is desirous of entering into official partnership with NUC to include activities such as joint institutional quality assurance (QAA does not conduct programme accreditation), exchange of relevant documents that can help enhance quality assurance work of the NUC, running of international conferences on quality assurance, capacity building for NUC quality assurance staff. • Cairo University, Egypt: Wishes to explore partnership with NUC including staff and student exchange with Nigerian universities and sharing of best practices in university management. • Al-Azhar University, Egypt: The university is desirous of entering into partnership with NUC that will give it ample chance to directly partner Nigerian universities. • Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt: The President expressed his eagerness to sign an MoU with NUC to foster different layers of cooperation between Kafrelsheikh and Nigerian universities through NUC. The lessons learned, and the drafts of such MoUs (sample in the Appendix) are to be conveyed to the Executive Secretary of NUC through Strategy Advisory Notes of STRADVCOM. Report of Study Visits to Egypt and the UK by NUC Strategy Advisory Committee page 3 Contents Signature page .................................................................................................................................... 2 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ 3 Acronyms ................................................................................................................................................ 5 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 6 Objectives of the Visit ............................................................................................................................. 7 Delegation ............................................................................................................................................... 7 Study Visits in Egypt ............................................................................................................................... 7 About Egypt and the Egyptian University System........................................................................... 7 Meeting with the Ambassador and Embassy Staff of the Nigerian Embassy in Cairo ...................... 10 Meeting with the Honourable Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Egypt ....... 11 Study Visit to Cairo University ......................................................................................................... 12 About Cairo University .................................................................................................................. 12 Highlights of meeting with Cairo University officials and tour of facilities ................................... 12 Lessons learned and agreement on partnership with NUC and Nigerian universities ................. 13 Study visit to the Supreme Council of Universities SCU ................................................................. 13 About SCU ..................................................................................................................................... 13 Highlights of meeting with Secretary General, SCU and officials ................................................. 13 Lessons learned and agreement on partnership .......................................................................... 15 Lessons learned by SCU from NUC................................................................................................ 16 Study visit to the National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Education (NAQAAE) ......................................................................................................................................... 16 About NAQAAE.............................................................................................................................. 16 Highlights of meeting with NAQAAE officials and tour of facilities .............................................. 17 Lessons learned and agreement on partnership with NUC .......................................................... 19 Study visit to Al-Azhar University .................................................................................................... 20 About Al-Azhar University ............................................................................................................. 20 Highlights of meeting with the President of Al-Azhar University and tour of facilities ................ 20 Lessons learned and agreement on partnership with NUC and Nigerian universities ................. 21 Study visit to Kafrelsheikh University .............................................................................................. 21 About Kafrelsheikh University ...................................................................................................... 21 Highlights of meeting with the President of Kafrelsheikh University and tour of facilities .......... 22 Lessons learned and agreement on partnership with NUC and Nigerian universities ................. 23 Study Visit in the UK ............................................................................................................................. 23 Study Visit to Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) .............................................................................. 23 Report of Study Visits to Egypt and the UK by NUC Strategy Advisory Committee page 4 About QAA .................................................................................................................................... 23 Highlights of meeting with officials of QAA .................................................................................. 25 Further lessons learned and partnerships ................................................................................... 29 Visit to the Nigerian High Commission in the UK ................................................................................ 30 Summary of all lessons learned ............................................................................................................ 31 Recommendations ............................................................................................................................... 34 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................ 35 Appreciation .........................................................................................................................................