My Beauty Best Teacher

Suleman H. Okech writing in African Loft:

...To increase the Universities’ contribution to develop and transfer technologies in an effective way that would stimulate industrial development, Kenyan [and other African] universities need to transform themselves into developmental universities. To achieve this, other participants, such as industry and government must be prepared to take on new responsibilities that would challenge Universities to open up for the necessary linkage with industry, Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) and the government. Well crafted dialogue within and outside universities must be initiated.
In Africa, Universities have the highest concentration of highly trained human resource capacity that should spearhead research, innovate, develop and transfer technologies. This potential has not been adequately exploited due to a number of factors: To begin with, industrial investment in the country is spearheaded by international companies who are dependent on their parent companies’ research in the developed countries. Secondly, universities in Africa tend to work in isolation. Thirdly, there is lack of proper policies that encourage local research and participation of the universities in national development. Finally, low funding. High-level research is costly, and governments are reluctant to funds research.

Adetanwa I. Odebiyi presented a number of alternatives(PDF) for tertiary education financing in Nigeria that remain relevant today, they include that:

• The universities in Nigeria need to be open to innovations in the area of sourcing for nongovernment funds to run the respective universities. In this respect, universities should learn from one another and possibly under-study the success stories in sister universities.

• It is important to enlighten the public about the various modes of financing higher educationThe public includes parents, and guardians, and some of them could even be alumni of these various universities. Some could even be industrialists who may be willing to endow chairs or provide funds for applied research which will benefit the industries and economically enhance the universities. If the public is to provide necessary support in financing the universities, then they should be well informed as to the conditions in the universities and about alternative modes of financing higher education. They should be made to know what obtains in other countries and why some steps are necessary. They should know the types of expertise available in the universities so that these can be explored and utilised in the industries.

Which Way Nigeria questions the institutional fund-raising/endowment-building strategies of the country's Universities and indicts the leadership:

As long as the NUC and ASUU cannot get their acts together to compel FG and FME to grant full autonomy to the Universities in Nigeria, which would enable them access funds from businesses and corporations without unduly charging the already impoverished and over-stretched studentry; the standard or education and quality of graduates from Nigerian universities will remain what the CBN Governor, Chukwuma Soludo observed as poor and unemployable...There are many options open to universities to raise funds to support academic and research work without charging extra tuition on the students. This should be made clear to allay the fears of the anti-autonomy protagonists

Keguro Macharia writes:

We are curious and, as the jua kali sector proves, we generate new innovative unheralded forms of knowledge all the time.As scholars such as Joyce Nyairo have shown, our most interesting forms of knowledge production and dissemination may not be happening within the universities.Kenya’s knowledge economy thrives and flourishes on matatu graffiti, on street corners, in community-based theatre productions.
But to say this is also to ask, then, about the role of our universities.If most of our knowledge is produced and disseminated elsewhere, what role do our universities have in the knowledge economy?
...We cannot continue to rely on that old, tired “I’m an African” bit so beloved of African participants in international conferences, who use that opening statement to disengage from the tough conceptual demands being placed on them.Locating ourselves is an ethical and political act. Disengaging from tough conceptual demands because of location is anti-intellectual...[continue reading]

Suleman H. Okech writes in the African Executive:

In Africa, Universities have the highest concentration of highly trained human resource capacity that should spearhead research, innovate, develop and transfer technologies. This potential has not been adequately exploited due to a number of factors… industrial investment in the country is spearheaded by international companies who are dependent on their parent companies’ research in the developed countries. Secondly, universities in Africa tend to work in isolation. Thirdly, there is lack of proper policies that encourage local research and participation of the universities in national development. Finally, low funding. High-level research is costly, and governments are reluctant to funds research.

Michelle Martin reports:

One of the main challenges facing the continent is the lack of research inside African universities, which have traditionally concentrated on education. Many governments also remain unconvinced of the importance of scientific innovation in creating economic growth.

Forty years ago, many Asian countries were in a similar situation...We have to look to places like Taiwan and India and forge a new model where African universities give birth to businesses, and businesses create their own universities.

Glenda Kruss writes about University-Industry linkages and the South African experience:

Establishing effective cross-sector networks rather than limited contracts and consultancies can reconcile these two positions. Africa needs partnerships that both harness the innovation potential of university research and meet industrial needs for development. South Africa's best examples can lead the way...To create such partnerships, institutions first need to understand the competitive dynamics of their target industry, and what individual firms in their region could use. And they need to be realistic to avoid ambitious science parks or design centres failing.
Universities must build their general research capacity, and specific expertise in niche areas (most of South Africa's best networks are in just a few well-established universities that have well-organised research systems). Then, they need to develop research policies and mechanisms to specifically support partnerships. They must decide which partnerships will best promote their academic mission and serve their financial imperatives, as well as contributing to national development goals.

Continuing our coverage of alternative financing methods for education, we take a look at Ellen Mashiko's report on existing university endowments within the continent, she states that:

Endowing African universities is not an audacious initiative but a sound investment in the future by the recipient and the donor. The recipient commits to fulfilling the conditions put forward by the donor, which in the best cases are jointly developed, and to ensuring that the endowment is integrated into an institutional strategy and action plan for sustained growth. The donor supports the university by providing the funds and offering follow-up programs and activities that not only help ensure sustained growth but also expand the opportunities for the university beyond the parameters of the endowment.

George Ayittey of the Free Africa Foundation writes:

1) Never Forget Your Roots

Africa's traditions, institutions, and customs are integral part of your heritage. This heritage includes participatory democracy based on consensus, free village markets, free enterprise and free trade. You cannot reject this heritage and remain African.

2) Seek Ye First the Economic Kingdom in the Private Sector

There is nothing wrong in wanting to be rich, but nobody became rich working for a wage/salary, unless he was prepared to steal or embezzle, like the African kleptocrats. But that does not pay in the long run. Earn your wealth in the private sector by actually producing something, even charcoal. If capital is a problem, do as the illiterates do by pooling savings as in the revolving credit schemes.

3) Privatize the Universities

Africa's universities should be privatized. They may be given a fixed annual government subvention and then allowed to raise their own revenue and manage their own affairs. This way, they can uphold academic freedom, which is currently not possible with the head of state, often a military imbecile, as the chancellor.

4) Demand and Defend Freedom of statement/Media

Recall that the first critical step in problem resolution is the exposure of the problem. Without freedom of statement this is nearly impossible... "African governments are responsible for the underdevelopment of African literature. Among the four main problems inhibiting the development of African literature is the expulsion of prominent African writers . . . the absence of African writers in international debates, absence of integrative policies and lack of publishing infrastructure" . All African intellectuals must demand the right to free speech and defend the rights of others for the freedom to speak, publish and write...

5) Practice Intellectual Solidarity

Respect and assist members of your own profession, regardless of differences of opinion. If one is under siege, all wherever they may be --- in or out of government, in or out of the country -- must go his or her aid. You may need group assistance yourself in the future. And extend this solidarity to other groups fighting the same cause as well...
6) Demand National Conferences

When a national crisis erupts, demand that a national dialogue or conference be set up to resolve it, as is done in African villages. The national conference must be sovereign and its decisions binding on all parties, including the government...

7) Disband the Military or Cut It in Half

No African intellectual with an iota of intelligence and a modicum of Pan-Africanist spirit would support, much less serve, a barbarous military regime. Ever! All those African countries that imploded were ruined by the military.

8) Pan-Africanism

Pan-Africanism, originating from the belief that African countries share common problems, common solutions, and common destinies will remain a dream unless you learn more about African countries other than your own.

9) Set Up a Rival AU
The time has come for the useless OAU(nowAU) to be disbanded or for a rival body, the Organization of Free African States to be set up. It should be made up of strictly democratic countries. OFAS can be set up under the aegis of President Nelson Mandela of South Africa.

10) Selectively Repudiate Foreign Debt

Insist that foreign aid be given only to democratic African countries. Time and again, foreign loans are taken by corrupt, illegitimate and repressive African regimes without the approval of the people.

Mfonobong Nsehe asks? in an American Chronicle article:

Are there any universities at all which are as supportive of student entrepreneurs as to organizing business plan competitions to fund businesses of students which have mega potential?...Where are you going to find venture capitalists in Kenya or elsewhere in Africa who will be willing to swallow their pride and listen to a student entrepreneur who is armed with nothing but a world-shaking idea?

We have such bright student entrepreneurs in Africa. But until African financiers and the self-proclaimed 'Venture capitalists' are easily accessible and listen to student entrepreneurs in our African Universities, Africa may never have its own answers to such mega, internationally famed corporations like Google, Yahoo, TicketAdvantage, CollegeHumor and Facebook which were all the brainchildren of student entrepreneurs. We need financiers who will believe in and support the dreams of African student entrepreneurs and get those big ideas out of the boxes and into the pages of history. African student entrepreneurs are equally as smart, gifted and visionary and if supported can come up with big, world-changing ideas that would change the world.

And so, will the venture capitalists in Africa please stand up?

• kibin

  Students are already peer reviewing each other's work using kibin.

  tags: education grammar peerreview p2p language literature bestpractices techintegrator

• Flat Classroom brings world closer - Pelican Press

  Another great local press coverage of how our amazing Flat Classroom teachers are collaborating. This is a story that our communities are hungry for. Social media is great but social learning is transformational. The best teachers are attracted to the Flat Classroom projects - apply now at www.flatclassroomproject.net

  tags: education flatclassroom inthenews digitalcitizenship edu_news

• The 35 Best Web 2.0 Classroom Tools Chosen By You - Edudemic

  Awesome! RT @FlyontheCWall for later: The 35 Best Web 2.0 Classroom Tools Chosen By You : http://ht.ly/5CXkW #5thchat

  tags: 5thchat twitter education

• College Readiness with Knewton's Adaptive Learning Platform™

  Colleges are struggling because incoming students aren't ready for the rigors of college. Here is a clip of a press release about how some colleges are using Knewton.
  
  "Today, educational technology company Knewton announced that its award-winning Adaptive Learning PlatformÔ has been selected by Penn State University (PSU), University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), the State University of New York (SUNY), and Mount St. Mary’s University to power college readiness courses that will help condition incoming students for the rigors of college-level academics and identify and address academic areas of improvement for each student. Recognizing the successful implementation of blended learning at ASU, both state universities with large student bodies like SUNY, Penn State, and UNLV, and small selective private universities like Mount St. Mary’s are turning toward Knewton’s Adaptive Learning PlatformÔ to power their college readiness programs.
  
  
  
  College preparedness continues to be an issue that impacts students across the nation and can hinder a student’s chance of completing a four-year university program. According to the Alliance for Excellence in Education, 50 percent of students who enter college remediation programs fail to reach graduation. "

  tags: education college

• Create, Share and Learn with a Global Repository of Tests

  Online test site for homework or review. Let the computer do what it does best.

  tags: education assessment techintegrator all_teachers tests repository

• Junior Scholastic Home

  Digital Scholastic is free for the rest of this summer and is being marketed for your IWB. Looks like some interesting content.

  tags: education elementary middleschool

• The Kids Are Ready | Classroom Applications

  Nice write up on how Brad Flickinger is running his elementary classroom with a lot of high-quality technology equipment where the students serve as mentors for each other. Love this model.
  
  Hat tip: Robert Madden

  tags: education flatclassroom learning mentoring elementary_teacher bestpractices elementary

• Multimedia Learning Resources - Educaplay

  There are some free activities here but this is a tool to develop multimedia activities for LMS systems. It is in beta.

  tags: education lms multimedia elearning

• The Solar School Initiative

  This website helps US public schools install and pay for solar power.

  tags: education environment greenenergy edu_news administrator

• Best College Scholarships and Grants. Compare, reviews & ratings.

  Search tool to help you find the best scholarships online. With a high school junior, I'll be working here.

  tags: education scholarship college edu_news

• MySchoolHelp

  Website by a 17 year old high school students in a Silicon Valley incubator. Looks interesting. "Find and share notes with your friends."
  
  If we don't help them share - they will. If they learn is it cheating?

  tags: education collaboration flatclassroom

• Educator Application « 140 Character Conference

  Got a note that if you want to go to the 140 character conference for education and are an educator you can attend for $1.40. Here is the application, it is coming up August 2/3rd.
  
  "Your readers / subscribers may join us for a special price of $1.40 (seriously) if they apply here and prove they are part of the education community. Otherwise, participation is $140.00 for the two-day event. "

  tags: education twitter edu_news

• DEN Research | Discovery Education

  Membership study of Discovery Educators network and the impact on their professional development. While I have just become someone that you CAN book through Discovery for speaking (to be on their website soon) I do learn a lot from DEN.

  tags: education professionaldevelopment edu_news

• Global World History Project: And We're Off...

  A teacher is working on a global world history project and is looking for friends and partners. If you teach history in high school, he's looking for more partners.

  tags: education flatclassroom globalcollaboration history

• Beginners » The Krazy Coupon Lady

  This isn't related to teaching but IS related to managing a household and saving money. I have some friends who are going crazy about how the krazy coupon lady is saving money. Times are tight and I think my teacher friends out there will like this website.

  tags: education money budgeting

• Design presentations automatically - VisualBee PowerPoint plugin

  Visual bee looks at the words and text on your slides and helps "soup up" your powerpoint presentation for you. There is a free plug in for PowerPoint. If you've gotta use it, perhaps some of the intelligence in here would be beneficial for you

  tags: education presentations techintegrator all_teachers

• | Marble Jar

  Apps are emerging like marble jar to help give children rewards and promote long term behavior improvements. This may work for some kids. I prefer the hug and kiss method myself. ;-)

  tags: education parenting

• Museum of Science and Industry | About The Museum | Press | Month at the Museum 2

  I love this! Apply to spend a month at the museum and win $10,000 in the process. Here is the info:
  
  "The Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago is once again holding a nationwide search for a live-in roommate for Month at the Museum 2, an innovative experiment where one curious and adventurous individual will have full reign of the Museum for 30 days and win $10,000. Last year’s roommate captured the imagination of people around the world. "

  tags: education museum contest

• How to Send a Direct or Private Message on Google+ ~ LockerGnome Social Media & Technology

  (Hat Tip to Danita Russell for sending this to me)
  
  Here is how you private message people on Google+

  tags: education google+ edu_news edu_newapp

• Philips' Luminous Wallpaper Will Create the Mood Lighting of the Future | Popular Science

  Excited about the LED wallpaper and the potential it has for making learning spaces more powerful and engaging. This self-luminating wallpaper takes "mood lighting" to a whole new level.

  tags: education building design edu_trends

• Geekteach: 3D Printing In the Classroom -- InformationWeekGeekteach: 3D Printing In the Classroom - personal-tech Blog

  Cool article on 3D printing in the classroom. There are so many great applications for this! I'm excited it is finally coming.
  
  Hat tip for this one to the president of our tech support contractor, Paul Blough from Bloughtech - great company to work with.

  tags: education printing

• Kids News and News Articles for Kids - GoGoNews -

  "Big news for little people" this website is targeted news for kids aged 7-14 and may be something you can use in your classroom. What a fascinating discussion you could have about July 13th's topic the "crazy basketball court." 

  tags: education currentevents news all_teachers edu_news

• The OrganWise Guys: At Home

  A childhood obesity program centering around some really cute puppets. These guys are cute. They have a program you can use in health class too.

  tags: health obesity education science elementary

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka and Padmashree Gehl Sampath write:

Our analysis of the innovation process for biopharmaceutical research within Nigeria reveals specific obstacles at different stages of work that the institutions were engaged in, for three reasons. First, lack of facilities and financing to move the research to the concluding stages.Second, we found situations where significant research results had been collected, with evidence of possible utility of the process and product, but no demand by the end-users10.Third, failure to commercialize sometime resulting from institutional rigidity much of which relates to the ways traditional PRIs and universities are set up. There are two issues that recurred in our interviews namely, who initiate the process (the PRI[public research institutes] or a
firm/entrepreneur?); and what form of formal or informal contract guides the process? In advanced developing and highly industrialized countries, two broad types of formal contract are common, which are, academic entrepreneurship, and spin-off companies from public research or universities...[continue reading]

The Timbuktu Educational Foundation was "...founded for the sole purpose of preserving, restoring, and disseminating the important intellectual contributions of the early African scholars from the famous Timbuktu Universities of Mali, West Africa...its goals include to restore preserve translate and publish the manuscripts of Timbuktu.Restore the historical buildings which house the University of Timbuktu and to reopen the University with its classical methods of teaching..."

John Lonsdale critiques the thinking of Africa as an enduring victim, he suggests the rebuilding of African higher education as a necessary first step.
"...How far are the professed “friends of Africa” – scholars, students, activists – to blame for the mix of everyday indifference and latent fear, tempered now and again by pity? What can we do to repair our failures in representation? Perhaps it would be to do what best serves our own professional interest: regard African colleagues as allies in a common cause, and repair the failures in African higher education that so diminish the African ability to speak to the rest of the world as intellectual equals, expert witnesses in their own cause, full citizens of our one world...Why do we need celebrities to enlist our attention? What Bob Geldof and Bono have done is marvellous (the Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen tells me that Geldof proved to be a sharp student of development economics in the telephone tutorials Sen gave at the popstar’s request in 2004). But there are also two dangers in the “celebritisation” of Africa’s needs:

• the sense of guilt that Geldof and Bono arouse in their audiences may prove fleeting and ineffective – when it is important that the G8 and the European Union need to be subjected to intellectually sustained and politically creative scrutiny
• the image of the secular saint flatters the self-regarding, even racist, European image as the heroic dragon-slayer riding to the rescue of a voiceless and helpless African continent, trapped by poverty, ignorance and disease

In Pambazuka Kola Ibrahim and Ayo Ademiluyi offer solutions for fighting cults in Nigerian Universities:

What is needed to tame the monster of cultism across the campuses is to build a genuine mass based student movement that will be a counterweight to cultism. In this regard, the ban and proscription of student unions on many campuses is a deliberate attempt by the authorities of the tertiary institutions to give a free hand to cult groups which are controlled by them to strafe off genuine student activists. This is why campaign against attack on democratic student unionism must be championed by students across campuses...[continue reading]

Rhonda Roads said it best in 'the mail', an on-line magazine publication by Gary Imhoff about Chancellor Rhee's decision to initially open DC schools on a 2-hour delay. After many parents complained to the Mayor and TV news stations did this administration decide to reverse their decision later. Here's what Roads sent to Chancellor Rhee:

"An E-mail to Chancellor Michelle Rhee: Are you f---ing crazy? Totally out of touch with the world? No Metro bus service. Feds closed. Universities and charters closed. Most sidewalks are not clear and most residential side streets are not plowed. Children will have to walk in the streets.

Are you even in town, or out in Sacramento? Another example of your poor leadership. Please resign."

Posted by The washington teacher, featuring Candi Peterson blogger in residence

• Cool Cat Teacher Blog: 5 Fantastic Things to Do Over Winter Break

  Blogged: #education 5 Fantastic Things to Do Over Winter Break http://t.co/urPRT9u7

  tags: education twitter

• The Tevatron's enduring computing legacy | iSGTW

  A fascinating article on the mind blowing influence the Tevatron particle accelerator has had (and will have) on technology and the world we know it. This will be required reading for my computer science students when we return in January.

  tags: Education technology innovation

• How Smartphones Are Changing Photography: The Numbers Are In | Gadget Lab | Wired.com

  27% of photos taken this year were taken on smartphones.
  
  I am not sure why schools are banning cell phones and buying cameras.

  tags: Education photography

• Pudding vending machine tells kids to scram

  No undoing for you! Face scanning uses the measurements between your eyes and a few other dimensions to determine if a person is old enough to buy something out of the machine. But the fact that it is put on a jello pudding machine is pretty funny to me. Guess junior will need an older sibling tonget that jello for him. Humor aside, there could be use for this in areas served by kids and adults although kids do get around obstacles when they want to.

  tags: Education health

• Facebook and iPhone Lead Way on Klout's Top Topics of 2011 Lists [INFOGRAPHIC]

  This infographic from Kliut depicts the most popular conversations and people on Twitter. No doubt,MIT is a hub for pop culture. But there are great microconversations happening in education using this site so don't let the trivial steer you away.

  tags: Education twitter trends

• How to Recalibrate Your iPhone’s Home Button to Make it More Responsive

  So, you want your iPhone home button to behave like it did when you got it. This very simple tip is spreading like wildfire through the iPhone networks and just involves a simple recalibration with the power off switch. Try it if you are having trougble or if you have had your iPhone or iPod touch for a while. Very cool.

  tags: Education iphone

• Kinect Educators - Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information from Alfred Thompson - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

  As some of you experience Microsoft's super cool Kinect system for the first time, you'll be thrilled to know this tool is being used in school as well. Here, my go to Microsoft blogger And dear friend Alfred Thompson gives an overview of Kinect in education.

  tags: Education kinect

• Paul Stacey

  Paul Stacey writes an excellent overview of Open Education (hat tip Stephen Downes edcurator extraordinaire) that is a great read for those trying to keep their finger on the pulse of the very rapidly changing landscape of education.

  tags: open education opened

• Esther Wojcicki: Give Yourself A Free University Education at University of the People

  University of the people, a site offering free degrees in business administration and computer science continues to gain momentum as leading the effort to "democratize education." Things are underfoot that will radically change the expensive landscape known as higher Ed. The bottom line is that universities without solid online platforms won't be ready for the changes they will need to made. Their greatest commodity will be excellent teachers who can now be beamed from one end of the planet to the other. This crazy upheaval in education is only beginning and the competition is no longer limited by geography.

  tags: Education highered

• Zootool – Visual Bookmarking

  Zoo tool is a new bookmarking tool that is more visual. I am a huge Diigo fan but this tool is worth a mention.

  tags: Education socialbookmarking

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

• Do Yourself a Favor: Set Up These Custom Typing Shortcuts on Your iPhone Right Now

  If you have an ios5 device, you got text expansion. Lifehacker's guide is a great guide for setting up. I will add this tip. If you are lucky enough to have more than one iOS device, set it up the exact same way on both!

  tags: Education iPhone iPad productivity

• Teacher Christina Lambard learned a lesson of her own this week when she tried to give her eighth graders a first-hand experience in "taxation without representation." - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

  Taxation without representation lesson from history teacher Christina Lambard had parents calling the school to complain. A letter was sent home that said kids would be charged 25 cents a page and if unpaid they would get a zero. Usually the kids figure out the note is false. This year parents started calling the school before talking to the teacher. This lesson has been taught before without the hubbub . I think a bigger point here is that parents should learn to call the teacher first.

  tags: Education history_teacher history

• Experts differ on Klout's clout

  If you want to understand Klout, this article is a pretty balanced one.

  tags: Education twitter social networking socialmedia

• Tweetvite :: Find & Create Tweetups and other Events on Twitter

  This site lets you find and create events on twitter.

  tags: Education twitter

• At the Teacher's Desk: Is Your Classroom Flipped? Yes and No

  As William Chamberlain and I dm's on Twitter, I asked if he was "flipped" and he penned this answer on his blog. It is insightful in that many teachers incorporate elements of delivering instruction via blog or feed without having kids with net access at home.

  tags: Education technology

• Computers in the Classroom: LiveBinders: Resourceful Web 2.0 Tool

  College prof Judy Arzt from Connecticut writes about the usefulness of live binders. I like her simple 2 paragraph explanation of what it is. I find her simple language easy to understand and think that we need more edtech college profs to create blogs like this to share with their students. Nice blog. She is @JudyArtz on Twitter.

  tags: Education tool

• Creating a Game-Based Online Class | Online Universities

  Excellent article on designing a game based learning e-course. There are a lot of links and great ideas. Since hearing Jane McGonigal speak at Microsoft HQ I have using Interrobang and other games as a priority for integrating into my classroom. (Hat Tip @juandoming on Twitter)

  tags: Education gamebasedlearning game games elearning

• Mr. C's Class Blog: Tuesday's Lesson Plan

  I love William Chamberlain's lesson plan from this past Tuesday. I enjoy how he defines criticism and sets guidelines. I really love Mr. C! @wmchamberlain on Twitter. We exchanged DM's on Saturday and he has the students 50 minutes a day everyday. With no net access at home, he cannot flip, but I love how his assignments are right here.

  tags: Education criticism

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Bryan Mukandi writes in the Mail & Guardian:

...the continent is notable for its underdevelopment. It is the focus of the bulk of the workings of the “development industry”. No other continent has as many development NGOs giving aid, conducting research, formulating policy and so forth. Africa also has a good number of solid universities, as well as some very good ones, many of which are staffed by people who could hold their own anywhere in the world. These thinking communities are meant to dwell on society’s problems and offer solutions. A huge problem in their immediate environment is underdevelopment. Why then doesn’t more original thought on development and economics (as well as other social sciences) come from Africa?

The sad thing about the bulk of sub-Saharan Africa is that very few of the ideas that are lying around at any given time come from within the region. Perhaps it is time that African institutions of learning stopped seeing themselves as being in the business of “training” people so they can find work in some company or another. Maybe their basic function should be to inspire thinking and alternative solutions to local and regional problems...[continue reading]