In collaboration with the Boston College's Center for International Higher Education (CIHE), the African Development Institute (ADI) on Monday, July 5, 2010, in Tunis started a training program for university officials. The three-day event, held on the theme: "Building World-Class Universities," aims at enabling participants share experiences and discuss issues facing universities across the globe.
The discussions during the first day of the training focused on leading human development factors in a globalizing world which participants described as "knowledge sharing, and where academics interact and learn from shared experiences." Discussions during the training delivered by Boston College experts will enable participants upgrade their knowledge of teaching and share their experiences. At the end of the three-day training, participants will have a road map for a strategy that aims, among others, at scaling up quality control, improving the teaching profession, expanding access to equity and raising awareness of the community mission.
Human capital is one of the key development factors, a point underscored by the ADI director, Sibry Tapsoba, who opened the event. "The need to increase and use this human capital is in line with the Bank's medium-term strategic vision," he said, adding that "human factor is of strategic importance to the Bank," given that "the standard of living in a given country is mainly determined by the way this country develops and uses the skills, knowledge, health and the habits of its people." It is clear that in Africa like in other parts of the world, human capital and the efficiency of economic institutions condition economic performances. "It goes without saying that a country with an educated citizenry generally has a healthy population that lives long with healthy progeny," he said, commending the partnership between ADI and CIHE.
The training has brought together some 25 participants from 12 African countries, including presidents, rectors and vice-rectors. The training is being delivered by prominent American and European university professors.
Contacts
Ahouassou, Aristide
