AAU NEWSLETTER English Vol. 17 Issue 1 2011 - AAU Resource ...

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Vol. 17, No. 1 (May, 2011) AAU NewsletterPage 16Learning, others on Research, others might seek toprovide services particularly relevant to their localcommunity, while still others might provide acombination of each. Therefore, it is necessary tofactor in a weighting mechanism to take account ofinstitutional diversity. It has been assumed thatirrespective of institutional focus, quality criteria inthe areas of governance and management,infrastructure and finances are essentially applicableacross diverse institutions. Thus, these criteria do notneed to be weighted to take account of institutionalspecificities.Rating Programme QualityThe programme quality rating worksheet functions inthe same manner as the institutional quality ratingworksheet. For each specific criterion, there are threepossible scores: Unsatisfactory performance = 1,Satisfactory performance = 2, and Excellentperformance = 3. For institutional rating, a detailedformat with descriptions of performance at each levelis provided. The focus of the programme level criteriais on determinants of quality that are applicable acrossprogrammes, rather than on specific types ofprogrammes. Therefore, it is unnecessary to weightcriteria to take account of diversity acrossprogrammes. Once scores have been assigned to eachcriterion, subtotals per category of criteria areprovided and a programme level total score iscomputed.The RisksThe African Quality Rating Mechanism holds muchprospect for improving the quality of higher educationin Africa. However, some potential risks that need tobe considered to advance the laudable programmeinclude the following:1. SustainabilityThe AQRM is an initiative of the African Union (AU).Although the AU is well placed in policy initiatives,the organisation lacks the capacity to sustain theexecution of some of its policies over a prolongedperiod, as may be required of the AQRM. One of themajor risks that need to be addressed is that of thesustainability of the initiative. This risk can beovercome with a continental organisation that has thecredibility and track record to advance the laudableinitiative of the AU.2. Transparency and IntegrityCan the process remain transparent and conductedwith integrity? The buy-in depends on the integrity ofits execution.3. Conflicts with Regional Quality AssuranceFrame ProtocolEfforts at promoting regional quality assuranceprotocols in East and Southern Africa have made itnecessary for their institutions to respond to similarrequests for data and information on them. Theseinstitutions may be fatigued at the extra demands thatthe AQRM may make on them. However, it can beovercome by adequate publicity and dialogue with thevarious institutions.4. Minimum Benchmark for the CriteriaOne major limitation of the current instrument is theabsence of a benchmark of quality on each of thecriteria on which institutions can assess themselves.5. Limited Rating RangeThe current instrument has a scoring range of 1 to 3.Some experts have noted that a five-point scoringsystem might be more appropriate than the proposedthree-point scoring system. However, some noted that afive-point scale will move the mechanism to a level ofdetail that potentially makes implementation at acontinental level too complex, because it will becomeincreasingly difficult to provide such detail for a fivepointscale and distinguishing between four or fivepoints. It will be necessary to improve the scoringbeyond the three-point scoring, as the stakeholdersmay demand.6. Language ChallengesThe language diversity in Africa today is a majorchallenge to the mechanism. To be comprehensive, themechanism will need to be operated in English, French,Portuguese and Arabic. Unfortunately, this will makehigher demands on the operational cost of the process.7. FundingThe African Quality Rating Mechanism is now beingfunded with funds provided by member states of theAfrican Union. Unfortunately, there is no commitmenton how long the funding will be sustained. To sustainthe mechanism, the need is to secure a long-termfunding for the programme.8. Validation MechanismsAs it is for similar externally run quality assurancetools, the need will arise for a mechanism to validatethe claims of the various institutional respondents.Funding and modalities of the validation mechanismare yet to be finalized to build the necessarycreditability into the whole process.ConclusionThe African Quality Rating Mechanism is one of theefforts by Africa’s continental organization aimed atpromoting quality in African higher education. There issurely room and need for continuous improvement ofthe mechanism and its process. However, the first stepoffers hope that with the support of the African Union,the excellence in our various institutions would beidentified and promoted to develop our continent.
Vol. 17, No. 1 (May, 2011) AAU NewsletterPage 17AAU MEMBERSHIPThe AAU Newsletter is introducing theMEMBERSHIP PAGE. This and subsequent issues ofthe Newsletter will feature new members that haverecently joined the Association. The initiative is aimedat creating space for other member universities andtheir constituents (students, faculties, departments,etc.) to identify with new members to create networksand other collaborations.Membership of the AAU is open to universities inAfrica and institutions of higher education in Africathat have university status in their respective countries.For more information on membership, please visit.http://www.aau.org/sites/default/files/english/documents/aau_constitution2010.pdfAt the 68th meeting of the AAU Governing Board,which was held in Elmina, Ghana in June 2010, sevenuniversities were admitted to full membership status,bringing the number of members of the Association to259 as of January 2011. The newly admitted membersat the time were as follows:• All Nations University College, Ghana• Benadir University, Somalia• Cavendish University, Zambia• Crawford University, Nigeria• East Africa University, Somalia• Hawassa University, Ethiopia• Puntland State University, SomaliaName of Institution: All Nations University College(ANUC), KoforiduaCountry: GhanaYear of Establishment: November 2002Status: Private UniversityWebsite: http://www.allnationsuniversity.orgHead of Institution: President - Dr Samuel Donkorhe vision of All Nations University College is toprovide quality education pursued in a ChristianTenvironment of truth and integrity. TheCollege's mission statements seek to provide qualityhigher education that promotes development and toraise leaders with Christian values and ethics for goodgovernance to serve the people. In promoting excellence,ANUC programmes are designed to enableindividuals to transfer theory into practice towardtechnological, social, cultural and economic development.All Nations University College now runs the followingprogrammes:Undergraduate Programmes:BE Oil & Gas Engineering; BE Electronics andCommunication Engineering; BE BiomedicalEngineering (full time & weekend); BE ComputerEngineering; BSc (Hons) Computer Science; BBABusiness Administration; BA Biblical Studies.Diploma Programme:Diploma in Biblical Studies CertificateProgrammes: Certificate in Biblical Studies;Certificate in Information CommunicationTechnology (ICT).All Nations University College has the followingdepartments: Department of Biomedical Engineering;Department of Electronics & CommunicationEngineering; Department of Oil & Gas Engineering;Department of Computer Science & Engineering;Department of Business Administration; Departmentof Biblical Studies; Department of Humanities &Social Sciences.Further enquiries about its library holdings, tuitionfees, requirements for admission to its programmesand for the award of degrees can be sought from theRegistrar: lynn.kisembe@allnationsuniversity.orgName of Institution: Benadir University, MogadishuCountry: SomaliaYear of Establishment: October 2002Status: Public UniversityWebsite: http://www.benadiruniversity.netHead of Institution: President - Dr MohammedMoallim Muse MDs a result of Somali's civil war, many qualifiedSomali doctors had either become victims ofAthe war or fled from the country in search ofbetter livelihood and security. Owing to the shortage, agroup of Somali doctors, after thorough analysis of thesituation, decided to reverse it and established BenadirUniversity in October 2002. The university startedwith a single faculty, the Faculty of Medicine.However, from an innovative and strategic vision ofthe university, other important disciplines were added,and Benadir University now has four faculties withover 500 students.The programmes of the university are designed todevelop the personality of the students and preparethem to play meaningful roles in developing the
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