2ND CARTA VICE CHANCELLOR'S MEETING CARTA 2ND VICE CHANCELLORS MEETING REPORT | Page 41

© Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) & University of Nairobi (UoN)
SESSION VI
WAY FORWARD AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary of key recommendations
In order to make the workshop worthwhile, Prof. Sharon Fonn, Co-Director, CARTA posed three
main questions to the Vice Chancellors and Heads of Partner Institutions. Below is a summary of the
questions and recommendations from participants
1.
How can CARTA communicate with member universities more effectively and efficiently? (Do
the member universities meet with the CARTA focal people at their institutions? Some people
have more confidence than others and others could be intimidated by a high office. Should
the focal people be pushed to the universities more? Should CARTA be sending emails?)
Recommendations
a) A Vice Chancellor must have a good knowledge of how the CARTA program works. A
coordinator should however be on the ground to understand the institutional framework and
how to work with researchers and have knowledge of curriculum so that he/she advices the
VC. Every quarter, the VC should get a brief from CARTA on what their view would be about
the university so that this is discussed with the coordinator.
b) CARTA is now at a point of selecting the coordinators with the right capacity to be attached
in each university to direct activities on the ground. CARTA should set standards of the
coordinator
c) CARTA reporting is done quarterly. Universities must send their quarterly reports to VCs
before they are submitted to CARTA. This will assist the VC to be up to date with the CARTA
program activities.
d) Establishing norms and values and the right cultures within universities is necessary to promote
research activities.
e) Googledocs can be used for group communication between VCs to keep connections and flag
any problems.
2. CARTA prefers to stop existing because universities will be able to support themselves. What
could be done to facilitate the ability to facilitate the kind of change we all want? What is it
that VCs would wish these individuals to learn?
Recommendations
a) Whoever represents a university in the CARTA meetings must understand the strategic
thinking of the university and be passionate enough to represent the university.
b) There is need for constant training of all parties involved in CARTA programs for them to be
able to support better CARTA activities.
c) Universities must find a way of ensuring that CARTA achievements are shared with the entire
university community. The university community should be involved in CARTA events and
have ambassadors of the good work for members of the university community to know
what CARTA is all about.
35
CARTA’s 2 nd Vice Chancellor’s Meeting –Report of meeting proceedings – July 10-11, 2017