2ND CARTA VICE CHANCELLOR'S MEETING CARTA 2ND VICE CHANCELLORS MEETING REPORT | Page 57

© Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa( CARTA) & University of Nairobi( UoN)
however challenges that emerge from this as some equipment are obsolete and nobody is using them while the university has to accrue costs in maintaining them.
VCs’ must be prepared to go through a huge amount of literature before they make a decision( evidence based-decision making). It is also important to be consistent and congruent in decisions they make. Finally, VCs must live beyond their own expectations.
One thing that works in Africa is tagging a certain report to a meeting. e. g., having the Nairobi declaration on doctoral training in Africa and relating to government and donors as a group. The government decides what Universities do and has a strategy on Higher Education( HE).
Many universities have a challenge of training and supervision of students. For instance, Professors in private hospitals are mostly not willing to spend a day or two in teaching.
Research and research leadership is about selection. Individual research questions are selected by the scientists and universities are moving away from thematic areas where other people set the research agenda.
Universities have a challenge of managing money from University research councils and donors. It is important to build confidence of doors by practicing transparency and accountability.
Universities can leverage on the strength of consortiums and raise more funding. This can also help them build capacity for managing funds while having donors increase confidence in their universities. However, universities should not just access CARTA for scholarships. Those that are able to chip in can also give funds to CARTA.
The CARTA concept needs to grow beyond the leading universities in Africa that are in the consortium. There is need to take CARTA a step further and showcase what CARTA is doing by informing different universities of some of CARTA’ s accomplishments, e. g., no of fellows and graduates.
Proposed solutions 1. Universities must take initiative and stop waiting for influence from funders;
2. Universities must have requirements for Leadership training upon appointment. e. g., to attend leadership training for those appointed in leadership positions;
3. Build capacity for posts that are not pegged on structure and have succession plans in place; 4. Staff must effectively use equipment available at universities to build their capacity; 5. Evidence-based decision-making should be practiced by university leaders; 6. Nairobi declaration on doctoral training in Africa should be encouraged; 7. Training on Leadership is crucial; 8. Universities must build confidence in donors; 9. Universities should leverage on the strength as a consortium to raise funds;
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CARTA’ s 2 nd Vice Chancellor’ s Meeting – Report of meeting proceedings – July 10-11, 2017