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UNIVERSITIES FOR ALL: A NEW MODEL FOR EDUCATION AND RESEARH FOR AFRICA by O. A. Bamiro Professor of Mechanical Engineering Faculty of Technology University of Ibadan [email protected] Delivered on 1st April 2012 KEY INITIATIVES OF RELEVANCE TO EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RESEARCH Production of new generation of academics to address the acute problem of academic human capital in the region. Triple Helix applied to: Development of innovative Clusters (PACF) Tshumisano Model of technology diffusion (South Africa) Separate mechanisms for the funding of Research (Research Fund) and Innovation (Innovation Fund) in relation to the ‘valley of death’ KEY INITIATIVES OF RELEVANCE TO EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RESEARCH Establishment of professionally managed Research and Innovation Management Office and the promotion of regional research and innovation management associations. Promotion of multidisciplinary research laboratories for the conduct of cutting-edge research involving topend research and laboratory equipment. Establishment of Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the institutional level to link the university to the business sector as well as for the training and nurturing of students in entrepreneurship. Academic Human Capital Development Initiatives MacArthur Foundation support for capacity building. Partnership for Higher Education in Africa (PHEA) Carnegie-IAS Regional Initiative in Science and Education (RISE) The Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) The Pan African University (PAU) of the African Union. Academic Human Capital Development Initiatives Partnership for Higher Education in Africa (PHEA) comprising: ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Rockefeller Foundation Ford Foundation MacArthur Foundation Carnegie William and Flora Hewlett Foundation Andrew W. Mellon Foundation ◦ Kresge Foundation PHEA Interventions Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and Higher Education Regional Approaches to Postgraduate Training and Research Higher Education Research and Analysis Developing and Retaining the Next Generation of Academics Academic Human Capital Development Initiatives Carnegie-IAS Regional Initiative in Science and Education (RISE) aimed at strengthening higher education in sub-Saharan Africa by increasing the population of qualified faculty teaching in Africa’s universities. RISE is to prepare PhD- and MSc-level scientists and engineers through university-based research and training networks in selected disciplines. RISE was established in response to the request by university heads across Africa at the University Leaders’ Forum in Cape Town in November 2006 for faculty development which was recognized as the single most pressing need in higher education in our countries. Academic Human Capital Development Initiatives RISE took off with the following networks: (a) African Materials Science and Engineering Network (AMSEN): aimed at developing skills in materials science and engineering to develop and add value to the extensive mineral deposits of the Southern region. This involved some universities across the region. (b)Natural Products Research Network of Eastern and Central Africa (NAPRECA): This is aimed at developing Africa’s rich biodiversity into a natural products industry of social and economic significance. Economic Globalisation: Industrial Competitiveness. It is a competition for the control of markets and resources between global corporations and financial markets on the one hand and locally owned businesses serving local markets on the other The Challenge Reclaiming and building our local economies by working to create and sustain locally owned enterprises that sustainably harvest and process local resources to produce jobs and the goods and services that we need to live healthy, happy, and fulfilling lives in balance with the environment. The Triple Helix Partnership Government Triple Helix Sustainable Socio-Economic Development Academia Industry TRIPLE HELIX AT PLAY The Pan-African Competitiveness Forum (PACF) for the development of innovative clusters in Africa. Where is Africa on the scale of competitiveness index? What is the state of our Industrial Competitiveness? According to the 2009 Africa Competitiveness Report, 23 African countries out of the 31 that were surveyed remain at the most basic stage of the competitiveness index of a factor-driven economy (that is, one whose ability to compete is based on unskilled labour and natural resources). Only five countries – Algeria, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa and Tunisia - have reached the second stage of competitiveness – the efficiency driven stage (which is driven by efficient goods, sophisticated labour and financial markets, a large market size and the ability to utilize technology effectively). No African country has reached the innovation-driven stage, that is, a stage based on an ability to compete with new and unique products, and the use of sophisticated production driven competition.” The industrial processing of mineral resources can serve as a trigger for industrial diversification of the economic basis of Member States. This will trigger a carry-over effect on the development of technology, well-trained labour and managerial methods. Industrialization based on mineral processing can have as objective, the creation of a regional industrial base, geared towards producing intermediate products to meet national and regional needs and the export of a part of those products to meet foreign demand. The key drivers for these include having, among others: Conference of African Ministers of Industry (CAMI) A significant entrepreneurial base looking at opportunities to service local, regional and export markets; Competitive production (high productivity, low costs compared to competitors); Craftsmanship and specific skills; Access to markets (domestic and foreign); Good market intelligence; and Research and development. Conference of African Ministers of Industry (CAMI) Import substitution and the 2012 Agric Budget In Nigeria, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Adesina has been challenging all stakeholders, including research establishments, to join hands in achieving complete replacement of imports of rice especially while diversifying the industrial uses of cassava. We probably all witnessed Mr. President eating the cassava bread from the IITA Lab! But who will address the value chain – from the cassava farm to the processing bay and the bakeries for onward transmission of the innovative cassava bread to our dining tables? Lesson from AfDB The African Development Bank (AfDB) approved US $63.24 million funding package for the implementation of a five-year agricultural research project. The project, dubbed, ‘Support to Agricultural Research for Development of Strategic Crops in Africa (SARD-SC), involving research establishments in the region, was meant to enhance the production of staple food items like cassava, rice, maize and wheat. Surely, this is an excellent step towards achieving food security in the region. Triple Helix: The South African Case This is based on the Presentation by David Phaho of the Tshumisano Trust, Department of Science and Technology titled: “LEVERAGING UNIVERSITY EXPERTISE TO ENHANCE INDUSTRIAL INNOVATION & COMPETITIVENESS” “TSHUMISANO” Tshumisano Trust is an Agency of The Department of Science and Technology to Strengthen Technology Transfer and Diffusion Initiatives at Universities to Support SMME’s. Technology Diffusion It is any process by which basic understanding, information and innovations move from Universities, Institutions or Government Agencies to Individuals or Firms in the Private Sector. Economic Growth Imperatives in South Africa Skills Development in Areas of National Priority Mineral Beneficiation – From a Resource driven to a Knowledge driven economy Enhanced Manufacture and Export of Finished Products from key industries: Automotives, Chemicals, Plastics, Metal products etc. TECHNOLOGY STATIONS Agri-food Processing at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (Cape Town) Chemicals at Tshwane University of Technology (Ga-Rankuwa) Composite Materials at Vaal University of Technology (Vanderbylpark) Downstream Chemicals at NMMU (Port Elizabeth) Chemicals at Mangosuthu Technikon in Umlazi (Durban) Clothing and Textile Technology at CPUT (Bellville) Automotive Components at NMMU (Port Elizabeth) Metals & Manufacturing at Central University of Technology (Bloemfontein) Moulded and Reinforced Plastics at Durban Institute of Technology (Durban) Metal Casting and Foundry Technologies at University of Johannesburg Electronics at Tshwane University of Technology (Tshwane) Agri-food Processing at University of Limpopo (Polokwane) Technology Station SME’s Assisted FY 2003/4 SME’s Assisted FY 2004/5 SME’s Assisted FY 2005/6 *SME’s Assisted FY 2006/7 Agrifood (CPUT)* - 5 38 24 Electronics (TUT) 22 7 65 44 Materials Technology (VUT) 19 20 117 110 Reinforced and Moulded Plastics (DUT)* - 66 65 76 Downstream Chemicals (NMMU) - - - 408 Automotive Components (NMMU) 68 107 139 113 Clothing and Textile (CPUT) 34 96 127 72 Metal Casting (UoJ)* - 10 25 42 Chemicals (Mangosuthu Technikon) 30 29 80 60 Product Development (CUT) 42 85 59 136 Chemicals (TUT) 18 23 72 113 Total 233 448 787 *1658 *Annualised for FY 2006/7. **Projects and Services and Technical Consultancy. Funding of Research and Innovation Establishment of Research Management Office: Functions of RMO Advancing the Mission and Vision of the university as they relate to research Assisting in proposal preparation and electronic submissions, i.e., packaging of proposals Facilitating financial accountability in the administration of grants and research-related contracts, i.e., financial management and research compliance oversight Collaborating with the relevant units in identifying, developing, protecting, and marketing the institution’s intellectual property and promoting knowledge transfer networks with the private sector Functions of RMO Regulatory compliance Facilitating the ethical conduct of research Dissemination of research funding information Facilitating the institution’s liaison with external funding agencies Multidisciplinary Research Laboratories Promotion of multidisciplinary research laboratories for the conduct of cutting-edge research involving top-end research and laboratory equipment. Centre for Entreneurship and Innovation Establishment of Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the institutional level to link the university to the business sector as well as for the training and nurturing of students in entrepreneurship. Thank You Techno-Economic Impact of the Innovation ITEM Duration of rearing to slaughter Total no. of rearing cycles per year Average weight per bird (kg) Feed requirement in kg per kg of flesh No. of birds per pen (of standard size 40ft by 320ft) Cost per kg of flesh TRADITIONAL TECHNOLOGY NEW TVS TECHNOLOGY 56 38 5 7 1.9 2.0 2.52 1.88 10,000 N191.52 20,000 N142.8 Key Lessons Innovation can take place outside the R & D system Innovation is not necessarily big science as it can utilize the technological knowledge already in the public domain. It can however become a sustainable instrument of competition if it is backed up by R & D institution for incremental innovation. Government can scan an industrial sector, identify technological needs, challenge an R & D institution to undertake necessary R & D for diffusion of solutions to the end users. This must be a deliberate policy as in the case of South Africa.