The Digital University Africa – building knowledge and collaborations between our higher education communities in digital skills for academics and educators, policy makers and higher education leaders. 

The British Council is working with the Higher Education sector in the UK and partner research organisations across Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa developing knowledge and collaboration in building digital skills for academics, educators, policy makers and higher education leaders.

The guiding principal of the Digital University in Africa project is to make a contribution to increasing the knowledge and understanding of the requirements of the digitalisation of the university across the continent of Africa.

Specifically, to develop cooperation among Universities (South South and North South) through a series of action research projects in one of 3 spheres of activity.

In addition, to contribute to a more in-depth understanding of the prevailing conditions of digital uptake across SSA (commissioned research) and to support the development of a community of practice for tertiary education digitalisation

The digitalisation and the University – what do we know?

The pandemic has accelerated a pre-existing change scenario. The digital narrative is one of inclusion and potential but there  are many unknown elements to the new world of digital and we would like to begin to understand these in more depth. For this reason, the British Council is investing in this work.

The pandemic, at its most benign, has disrupted our work, social interactions, changed our working life, healthcare, education etc.

Our approach

The situation is constantly changing and there’s a need to gain awareness of the tacit theories and assumptions that are guiding practice

Knowledge and activities are contextually specific – partnership is key

• Action research, participatory research
• A series of detailed meta-analysis reports. Overview report, TVET, Early years careers researchers

Our 3 areas of focus are:

• Policy and Strategy
• Academic skills, leadership skills and professional services skills
• Content development

Content projects

• Applying the power of digital co-design  to stimulate entrepreneurial thinking  in scientists (University of Lancaster and Ghana and Nigerian Universities)
• Creating digital content in Africa Universities – stories of innovation (INASP with partners in Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria)

Academic skills

• In silico laboratory training – teaching practical skills remotely (University of Johannesburg)
• Understanding and supporting decision making processes in online and blended teaching in sub Saharan Africa (Open University and Nigeria and Ghana)

Policy projects

• A vision for Digital Higher Education in Kenya – but is this the reality that we want/need  (PASGR & UCL)
• How do national quality assurance frameworks in higher education support quality digital teaching and learning in Kenya and Nigeria (ACU & Maseno University & University of Ibadan)
• Learning and teaching  reimagined: senior stakeholders at national and institutional levels in both the UK and SSA to  gain a common understanding of key issues in learning and digital transformation (JISC and SA and Nigeria)

The Digital University in Africa project will conclude at the end of July 2021. However, collaborations between the UK Universities and their partner organisations and across the project partners are planned to continue and flourish beyond the confines of the project.

For further information, please contact Linda McCourt, Global Head of Training and Learning, British Council