Africa-Press – Botswana. University of Botswana’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Norris, has emphasised the crucial role that African universities must play as drivers of change and innovation.
He was delivering a message at the International Study Abroad Fair (ISAF) and conference in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, where he presented on the transformative power of international education in shaping lives and future trajectories.
In a released release, Prof. Norris underscored the pivotal role universities have in steering the continent towards fulfilling its developmental goals as laid out in Agenda 2063.
He advocated for African universities to become hubs of innovation while calling for increased investment in postgraduate research programs aimed at tackling local challenges.
Additionally, Prof. Norris stressed the importance of African nations uniting their resources to address common issues and uphold principles of good governance.
He accentuated the necessity of collaborative efforts in realising the Agenda 2063 vision, which seeks to position Africa as a global leader through sustainable and inclusive development.
Criticising the overreliance on foreign universities for solutions, he urged African nations to become beacons of knowledge that others could emulate.
Furthermore, Prof. Norris identified a notable deficiency in how African universities harness the full research value chain, noting the importance of integrating innovation and research across the value chain for effective commercialization.
Professor Norris was a keynote speaker at this year’s ISAF and conference under the theme Accessing Beyond Borders: Embracing Global Opportunities.
The ISAF event serves as a platform to explore ways of leveraging global opportunities through international education and assisting students in making their dreams of studying abroad a reality.
The release says Prof. Norris also participated in a panel discussion on quantifying and evaluating the advantages of international strategic partnerships in student exchange programs. Accompanying him were Professor Georges Ekosse, Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning, and other senior management officials from the University of Botswana.
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