Innovative mentorship programmes for female academics in two African Universities of Technology via ubuntu: An exploratory study

Abstract

Universities are places for knowledge and skills dissemination; unfortunately, the career in the academia is male dominated. Few female academics often occupy lower positions in the career. The need for some affirmative action in the form of pro-female mentorship programme becomes crucial to empower women to compete equally with their male counterparts. This study employed qualitative method of interviews to explore the effects of pro-female academic mentorship programmes based on the African philosophy of Ubuntu (humanness) in two African Universities of Technology. The study revealed that mentorship programme underpinned by African values of compassion, cooperation and love can empower female academics with better knowledge and skills to compete equally with their male counterparts. The study recommended that African Universities of Technology should innovate and Africanise their mentorship programmes for female academics to empower them with skills and knowledge for better career prospects in the academia.

Keywords: Expert; Female Academics; Innovation; Mentorship; Novice; Retention; Ubuntu