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Universities fail to meet African skills requirements

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Subject

Outlook for universities in sub-Saharan Africa.

Significance

Last month, the World Bank warned that population growth in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) -- from 1.16 billion in 2015 to 1.63 billion in 2030 -- spells a demographic "disaster" if states fail to make sufficient human capital investments. The growing numbers accessing tertiary education -- from 200,000 in 1970 to 10 million today -- might suggest improvement, but in fact has overstretched resources.

Impacts

  • University research output orientates towards medical concerns given the strong influence of donor funding.
  • The lack of science, technology, energy and mathematics research hampers commercial R&D, hurting economic diversification.
  • South Africa's recent tuition fee freeze will exacerbate university funding woes, spurring research and capital budget cuts.
  • Low rates of formal job creation, coupled with rising enrolment, will exacerbate disaffection among the young.

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