Ssebuwufu, J., Ludwick, T., & Béland, M. Scoping study: Strengthening linkages between industry, the productive sector and higher education institutions in Africa. AAU-AUCC, 2011. Pages: 45.

The Association of African Universities (AAU) and the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) have recently published a report outlining the institutional capacity of African higher education institutions to develop and strengthen linkages with industry and production. The publication is the outcome of a joint AAU-AUCC project “Strengthening higher education stakeholder relations in Africa”, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency.

This report presents the results of a study which has aimed to establish some basic understanding of where African universities are in terms of their capacity to establish, manage, and govern collaborations with the productive sector as a means to drive the knowledge economy, promote wealth creation, and generate solutions to socio-economic issues. Based on the survey responses from 133 universities across Africa, the publication presents key findings about the state of university-industry linkages in Africa (including structures, policies, positions, incentives and allocated funding). Additionally, specific recommendations were formulated with regard to further action to be taken by African institutions to boost their efforts to build linkages with the productive sector.

AAU