University Mobility Reality Soon
By Leocadia Bongben
The free movement of students, lecturers and researchers in the CEMAC zone would soon be a possibility.
This is the essence of the fourth Rectors' Conference and Directors of Research Institutions during the harmonisation of research and scientific programmes of the region.
The Minister of Higher Education, Jacques Fame Ndongo, who November 20, opened the conference at the University Yaounde II, Soa, underscored the importance of harmonising the programme to enable mobility of academia for the development of the sub-region.
Measures of integration such as the integrated programme known as Chair CEMAC were identified; the harmonisation of degree/master-doctoral LMD system as well as modalities for the recruitment of a consultant for the localisation of the Chair and the content in line with the various universities was equally examined.
According to the Rector of University of Yaounde II, Jean Tabi Manga, President of CEMAC Rectors, some of the major challenges to the integration are how to put in place a confederation of university sports as well as cultural festivals in the region.
He said the sub-regional integration is a global exigency though it has economic and political leanings also has to be through universities, scientific and cultural in the construction of integrated development.
Speaking on the occasion, the African Development Bank, ADB, representative, Corbin Michel Guedegbe identified the inequitable growth as the root cause of crisis that plagues African systems in such a way that the demand does not equal the availability of means to ensure pertinent and quality education.
He maintained that with the economic crises, limited resources available to Higher Education which hinders mutation in terms of quality to respond favourably to the needs of nations for them to adapt to the challenges of globalisation.
He said in the present context the importance of universities in producing competences in the domain of science and technology cannot be over emphasised.He said this is indispensable in the socio-economic development and in the fight against poverty.
In this vein, he reiterated the commitment of the Bank in reinforcing the capacity of higher education, science and technology through technical and financial assistance.In the same line of thought, he said the ADB has developed a strategy of higher education, scientific and technology that is being elaborated.
He maintained that in collaboration with the CEMAC Commission avenues would be explored for the construction of a CEMAC Higher Education Space and a multilateral project to be financed by the bank.
Sharing the views of how the LMD system is taking off in Chad, the Vice Rector of the University, Ndjamena Zacahria Fadoul, stated that Chad is still a neophyte as the LMD system is concerned.
He stated that institutions are being put in place and a national commission has been created and texts adopted.
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