AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES SHOULD NOT BE LEFT OUT IN THE EXPANSION OF KNOWLEDGE’S FRONTIERS

 

The Vice-Chancellor of the Open University of Tanzania (OUT), Prof. Elifas T. Bisanda, has called on African universities to build their capacity to contribute meaningfully to research and expand the frontiers of knowledge.

 

 

Prof. Bisanda indicated that knowledge is growing exponentially in almost all disciplines, and African universities should become a force to reckon with in this regard. “A university which only teaches but does not engage in research or publishes is a glorified high school,” he put it humourously.

 

 

He made these remarks at a meeting held at Laweh University College between officials of OUT and representatives of Laweh University College, Accra. He led a seven-member delegation on a four-day working visit to Laweh from 17-20 July, 2023. OUT is the mentoring institution of Laweh.

 

 

Responding, Prof. Mrs. Goski Alabi, Consulting President of Laweh, complimented Prof. Bisanda for his deep knowledge and breadth of wisdom. “He speaks in simple language but very deeply,” Prof. Mrs. Alabi observed.

 

She agreed to Prof. Bisanda’s call to African universities to rise up to research and publish so as not to be left out in the scheme of contributing to knowledge.

 

 

She acknowledged the great strides of OUT in education, attributing it to its “excellent resources, procedures and quality.”

Prof. Mrs. Alabi recommended the adoption of the Oral Examination (OREX), one of the examination tools deployed by OUT, to other African universities, not only for its integrity but also for its expected learning outcomes. She emphasised, “We need to deploy a variety of tools to ensure the achievement of learning outcomes.”

 

 

The two universities discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest. These included Teaching, Learning and Assessment Procedures at Laweh, Review of MoU and Service Level Agreement between the two universities, Admission procedures as per Higher Education Quality Assurance in Ghana and Tanzania Commission of Universities’ Guidelines in Tanzania.

 

 

The Delegation also interacted with some present and past students on their impressions of Laweh and the quality of its programmes.

 

Members of OUT’s delegation included Dr. Maulid Maulid, Director, Internationalisation and Convocation; Dr. Lawi Yohana, Co-ordinator, University Teaching and Learning services; Dr. Maulana Ayoub Ali, Co-ordinator Links, Alumni and Convocation; Dr. Joseph Magali, Dean, Faculty of Business Management; Dr. Flora Kiwonde, Co-ordinator, International Students Office; and Ms. Nelly Moshi Mwasongwe, Secretary to OUT’s Council.

 

 

The Laweh Team included Mr Nathaniel Addy, Registrar; Rev. Dr. Maxwell Gakpo, Dean of Business; Dr. Munkaila Abdulai, Consulting Dean; Mr. Ebenezer T. Hanson, Deputy Registrar & Head of Communications.