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Capacity building using PhD education in Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Van de Laar, Mindel

    (UNU-MERIT)

  • Achrekar, Shivani

    (UNU-MERIT)

  • Larbi, Lucy

    (UNU-MERIT)

  • Rühmann, Friederike

    (UNU-MERIT)

Abstract

Globally the field of doctoral education is changing, with a move towards more internationalisation and away from traditional education. More PhD educational programmes use blended and e-learning elements and have an increasing number of working professionals enrolled in a PhD, or PhD students with jobs engaged in writing a dissertation. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the PhD scene reflects this change. Yet, not much is known about PhD capacity in Africa. While in terms of scientific output the continent is left behind, and thus doctoral education is an area to focus on, research on the effectiveness of doctoral education, and how to improve the educational offering is lacking. In this study, we offer an update of the literature related to doctoral education in Africa, an overview of the needs in the field according to both African PhD fellows and their supervisors, and a discussion on the role of e-learning innovations in supporting capacity building.

Suggested Citation

  • Van de Laar, Mindel & Achrekar, Shivani & Larbi, Lucy & Rühmann, Friederike, 2016. "Capacity building using PhD education in Africa," MERIT Working Papers 2016-068, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    • Handle: RePEc:unm:unumer:2016068
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Doctoral education; community of learning; Sub-Sahara Africa; E-Learning;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education

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