Universities and Economic Development in Africa case study: Kenya and university of Nairobi

Abstract

Overview of HERANA The Higher Education and Economic Development project forms part of the work of the Higher Education Research and Advocacy Network in Africa (HERANA). HERANA was established in 2007 and is coordinated by the Centre for Higher Education Transformation (CHET) in Cape Town, South Africa. Key partners include the University of the Western Cape (South Africa), Makerere University (Uganda) and the University of Oslo (Norway). The research component of HERANA investigates the complex relationship between higher education and development in Africa, with a specific focus on economic and democratic development. A second research area explores the use of research in policy‐making. Alongside the research component is an advocacy strategy that aims to:  Disseminate the findings of the research projects;  Coordinate existing sources of information on higher education in Africa,  Develop a media strategy; and  Put in place a policy dialogue (through seminars and information technology) facilitating interactions between researchers, institutional leaders and decisionmakers. The capacity‐building component of HERANA is the Higher Education Masters in Africa Programme, run jointly between the key partners. The main objective of the project is to contribute to the strengthening of higher education in Africa through building capacity and expertise in African higher education. The students contribute to higher education and development research through the research components of the programme.