AAU and AUCC to launch partnership project in Accra on November 11

Accra, Nov. 9, GNA - The Association of African Universities (AAU) in partnership with the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) will launch a project titled - "Strengthening Higher Education Stakeholder Relations in Africa," in Accra on November 11.

Through this project, African universities will be linked more closely with the private sector, positioning them to better develop the skills and knowledge to meet Africa's economic needs.

The three-year project, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), is the outcome of the presentation of the AAU Core Programme (2009 - 2013) to development partners at the Association's 12th General Conference in Abuja, Nigeria, in 2009, and falls under the sub-theme: "Renewal and Strengthening of Africa Higher Education Institutions".

A release issued in Accra on Tuesday said the project had three key components, namely:

Strengthening African University Outreach - African universities in partnership with Canadian Universities will strengthen their strategic plans for improved outreach to external stakeholders.

University-Industries linkages - African Universities in partnership with Canadian Universities will produce case studies of successful African University-Industry linkages and Strengthening AAU Stakeholder Relations - The AAU will work in partnership with the AUCC to strengthen its ability to support its member universities' external stakeholder relations and to strengthen its own external stakeholder relations.

The release said as the launch coincided with the commemoration of the African University Day, on November 12, both events would be held jointly at the same venue.

The theme for this year's African University Day is the Contribution of African Universities to the Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The Association of African Universities (AAU) is an international NGO set up in November 1967 by universities in Africa to promote cooperation among themselves and between them and the international academic community.

It currently has a membership of 253 higher education and research institutions from 46 African countries. The AAU's vision is to maintain AAU as the representative voice of the African higher education community both within and outside Africa.

The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) is the voice of Canada's universities representing 95 Canadian public and private, not-for-profit universities and university-degree level colleges.

Since 1911, the AUCC has provided strong and effective representation for its members, in Canada and abroad. The AUCC's mandate is to facilitate the development of public policy on higher education and to encourage cooperation among universities and governments, industry, communities, and institutions in other countries.

The AUCC provide services to member universities in the main areas, public policy and advocacy, communications, research and information-sharing and scholarships and international programmes.

GNA