NAIROBI, Kenya, May 10 – Kenya will be among the first African States to host institutes of the soon-to-be formed Pan African University (PAU).
Education Minister Sam Ongeri said on Tuesday that the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology would host the Pan African University Institute of Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation.
In Western Africa, Nigeria will host the Pan African University Institute of Earth and Life Sciences while in Central Africa while Cameroon will have the PAU Institute of Governance, Humanities and Social Sciences.
"It is the need to provide for the modalities, policies and statutes for the operation of the Pan African University that the African Ministers of Education have to gather here in Kenya starting Wednesday. The session is to consider and endorse key policy documents relating to PAU," the Minister told journalists at a press briefing.
He said preparations were underway to ensure that these first three institutes are launched in September this year.
Two other institutes will be launched at a later date and will include the PAU Institute of Water and Energy Sciences to be hosted in North Africa, while the South African region will host the Institute of Space Sciences.
"The session will also consider the African regional convention for the mutual recognition of degrees and qualifications in higher education," Prof Ongeri stated.
He said that this meant key policy documents have to be endorsed by July this year by the African Union (AU) Heads of State.
He said that the objectives of PAU were to enhance the mobility of students, lecturers, researchers and administrative staff between African Universities, stimulate collaborative internationally competitive research and enhance the attractiveness of African higher education and research institutions for effective development.
The Minister said the PAU was the culmination of continental initiatives of the AU Commission to revitalise higher education and research in Africa.
"It is a project that will exemplify excellence, enhance the attractiveness and global competitiveness of African higher education and research and establish the African university at the core of Africa\’s development," the Minister stated.
The establishment of PAU was agreed upon by African Union Heads of State in July 2010.
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