ESDA Master's Programmes - UNU-ISP - United Nations University

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― Current status of the programmeAfter the development of the three ESDA postgraduate programmes, efforts have been made byeach university to ensure that the programmes are implemented in the 2013-14 academic yearwith support from cooperating institutions. From the beginning, it has been assumed that ESDAshould, upon completion of its Project Phase, transit to a new Programme Phase. Whether or notthis transition will take place successfully will depend on a host of factors, including commitmenton the part of the leadership of the African partner universities to implement the programme,readiness of the faculty members of these universities to tackle the practical requirements for theprogramme’s initiation such as working out inter-university collaboration arrangements, availabilityof technical support from principal stakeholders, as well as financial support from both localand international sources.In order to implement, monitor and evaluate the ESDA programmes, the eight African universitiesand the UNU, which co-signed the MOU for implementing the ESDA Master’s Programmes, establishedthe ESDA Consortium as a steering mechanism to: (1) consider and take necessary decisionson overall direction, strategic issues, programmes, plans, project activities, budget andother matters relating to the ESDA as a whole; (2) review the working of the ESDA Consortium,including the status of joint activities among the partner universities and of cooperation with theSupporting Organizations; and (3) to consider and agree on the calendar of activities for theESDA Programmes. In addition, the ESDA partners have established the Next Generation ResearchersGroup – composed of young faculty members -who have elaborated a common researchagenda for joint pursuit in support of the ESDA Master’s Programmes on sustainable developmentin Africa. The group members are expected to assume a key role in implementing thefield-based and problem-solving oriented component of the ESDA curriculums.MOU signing ceremony between UNU and partnerAfrican universities on 13 Oct 2011, from left:Prof. George Magoha, Vice-Chancellor, Universityof Nairobi; Prof. Olive Mugenda, Vice-Chancellor,Kenyatta University; Prof. Konrad Osterwalder,Former Rector, UNU; Prof. ErnestAryeetey, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ghana;Prof. Stephen Simukanga, Vice-Chancellor, Universityof Zambia.Table of MilestonesOct. 2008 – Apr. 2009 May 2009 – Jun. 2010Project Initiation andConceptualizationProgramme Developmentand Planning PhaseJul. 2010 – Jul. 2011Programme Testing andSynthesis Phase4 Overview of the ESDA
― Distinguishing features of the ESDA ProgrammeThe ESDA Programme is characterized by a numberof unique and innovative features, which may besummarised as follows:(1) Programme ownership by leading African universitiescollaborating for impact: The ESDA Programmehas been carried out by a group of likemindedAfrican universities which are intent uponestablishing a common postgraduate programmeon sustainable development in Africa.(2) Improving the existing postgraduate programmesof partner universities rather than creatinga totally new programme: The ESDA Programmehas created concrete modalities for inter-universitysharing of complementary strengths among thepartner universities in order to enrich the existingprogrammes of the respective universities with improved curricular construct and enhanced instructionalcapacity.(3) Emphasis on field-oriented programmes designed to strengthen problem-solving capacitiesand inter-personal work skills of postgraduate students: One major shortcoming of the existingprogrammes in many African universities is that they are heavily focussed on classroom or desklevellearning with only limited practical exposure to developmental reality in a community or industrysetting. The ESDA Programme has attempted to alter this by instituting learning programmeswhich will bring postgraduate students to the field to address practical issues that relateto sustainable development concerns in each setting.(4) Active support by UNU and other external partner universities as well as UN organizationsworking in the field of sustainable development: As the project’s initiator, UNU has provided substantiveand organizational support for the ESDA Project. The Project has also benefited from activesupport by external partner universities, especially in Japan and Northern Europe, and UNorganizations such as UNESCO, UNEP and UN-HABITAT, all of whom have long experience andmuch expertise in education and training in the field of sustainable development.(5) Intentional use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT): African universities participatingin the ESDA Project are at various stages of development in utilising ICT for their researchand education. In order to promote inter-university collaboration among the partner universitiesthe Project has made deliberate use of this technology.(6) A project designed not only for African students, but also for students from outside Africa whoare interested in contributing to sustainable development in Africa: When implemented, the programmesformulated by the ESDA Project will not only be open to the students at the partner universities,but also to students from other African universities willing to enrol in one of the partneruniversities.ESDA ReflectionSymposium/Workshopof the ESDAProject on 1-2 March2010 in Nairobi.Oct. 13-14 , 2011 Nov. 2011 - Aug. 2013 Aug. Sep. 2013-Project completionconferencePreparatory work forProgramme initiationImplementation of the ESDAProgramme in African PartnerUniversitiesOverview of the ESDA5
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ESDA Master's Programmes - UNU-ISP - United Nations University

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