Evolving Approaches to University Education in Africa: Recent Examples from Ghana

Abstract

African university education is under the mounting pressure to answer to challenges and demands of the 21st century, such as training of large young population in practically oriented programmes and courses, as well as arresting the brain drain which affects the continent. Training and appropriate education of available human resources are essential for many aspects of life, including food security and improvement of living standards. Further, an educated and informed population is fundamental to policies and strategies for reducing poverty, excessive population growth, environmental degradation and other factors often responsible for low levels of development. Two evolving models of Ghanaian university education were the focus of this paper. Community-oriented practical education offered by the University for Development Studies (UDS) was an approach used to attract significant numbers of highly trained, young people to remain in rural areas of Ghana. Their dedication to work in the least developed parts of the country and ability to solve numerous problems in the surrounding environment have earned this programme high esteem within and outside the country. The second model, currently under the development by several Ghanaian public universities, is the concept of doctoral colleges for essential training of PhD candidates in deficit fields, such as mathematics, computer sciences and other relevant key disciplines.

Keywords: University Education, Community Development, Ghana