Eritrea and Japan Ink Higher Education Pact
(Tesfa.News)
http://www.tesfanews.net/archives/10331
*This Cooperation agreement aims at improving the quality and capacity of
higher education in the three out seven colleges in the country: Eritrea
Institute of Technology, Hamelmalo College of Agriculture and College of
Marine Science and Technology *
“Japan to fully fund project for Improving the Quality and Capacity of
three Eritrean Higher Education Institutes” – Dr. Tadesse Mehari
By Embassy of Eritrea –
Tokyo<
http://www.eritreaembassy-japan.org/data/Press_Statement_issued_by_the_Embassy_of_the_State_of_Eritrea_to_Japan_concerning_Higher_Education_Cooperation_Agreement_Signed_by_the_Government_of_Japan_and_Government_of_Eritrea.pdf>
,
*PRESS STATEMENT:*
*At no time in the history of Eritrea* has it needed assistance in
education than it does today. This is because of the rapid expansion of
this sector in the past few years following the opening up of many *tertiary
institutions* all over the country to cater for the rising demand for
education and training of the youth.
Before 2003, the only institution of higher learning in Eritrea was
the *University
of Asmara* which was established in 1958 by Italian missionaries. But this
could not absorb all the students from secondary schools and also satisfy
the rising need for tertiary education in the country. In 2004 the country
opened *seven new institutes* of higher learning in different areas. This
almost instantly called for more assistance from cooperating partners to
cope with the rapid expansion. It was against this background that the
Japanese government, through *JICA*, came in to support this expansion.
Hence, the Government of Eritrea through the *National Board for Higher
Education* and *JICA* have exchanged several missions to develop a
framework for a Project of higher priority which was underscored by the
bilateral held between Prime Minister Fukuda of Japan and President Isaias,
on the side line of 2008 TICAD Vin Yokohama, to improve quality of Higher
Education in Eritrea.
As a result, On the 8th of October 2012: JICA and National Board of Higher
Education (KNBHD) have successfully signed a comprehensive Agreement
covering: *objective*, *need*, *requirements*, *implementation*
*mechanism*etc of the above mentioned Project.
This Project will be implemented within the framework of the Agreement on
Technical Cooperation singed by the Government of Japan and Government of
Eritrea on 6th August 2005.
Under the program, the GoJ will assist in:
*(1)* Staff exchange, secondment of staff between Jomo Kenyata University
of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) for conducting lectures, experiments
and practicals as well as reviewing current post‐graduate curricula and
developing new post‐graduate curricula jointly.
*(2)* Provision of equipment and PHD program for lectures will start in
2012, and
*(3)* The triangular Project between Japan‐ Kenya‐ Eritrea which has a life
span of *three years initially targets* MAINEFHI Eritrea Institute of
Technology (MEIT), HAMELMALO Agriculture College (HAC) and MASSAWA College
of Marine Science and Technology (COMSAT).
This Agreement is in addition to the ongoing linkages established with *eight
universities in Japan*, to benefit capacity buildings of the colleagues in
Eritrea, in 2010.
*BACKGROUND:*
The Government of the State of Eritrea (GoSE) recognizes that the pace of
development of the country heavily hinges on the *quality of education* and
it has been making efforts to expand access to education at all levels.
GoSE also considers that a competitive, knowledge-based economy cannot be
built without adequately and appropriately trained workforce.
To meet the growing demand for the trained workforce, GoSE decided to reform
the tertiary education of the country in 2004. The reform led to the
establishment
of seven institutions of higher education (IHEs) located in different parts
of the country. These IHEs now shoulder the social responsibility of
producing highly qualified human resources and contribute to sustainable
development of the country.
The expansion of access to tertiary education has generated its own
challenges:
- Firstly, these IHEs which are newly established are confronted
with expanding enrollment of
students against a limited number of Eritrean teaching staff.
- Secondly, the IHEs find it beneficial to get input from partners in
curricula development particularly for post-graduate programs.
- Thirdly, there is a need to prevent the risk of decline in the quality
of education due to inadequate staffing and facilities.
Therefore, GoSE considers that there is great need for improving quality
and capacity of these IHEs.
Under these circumstances, *National Board for Higher Education* (NBHE) in
Eritrea and *Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and
Technology*(JKUAT) in Kenya signed
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the 26th of October 2011. The MoU
established a framework for cooperation between NBHE and JKUAT in academic
capacity building, including *teaching*, *research* and program development.
Besides, the NBHE on behalf of GoSE requested the Government of Japan for
assistance to improve quality and capacity of higher education of three
IHEs, Eritrea Institute of Technology (EIT), Hamelmalo Agricultural College
(HAC) and College of Marine Science and Technology (COMSAT). Responding to
this request, the Detailed Planning Survey Team was dispatched to the State
of Eritrea to discuss and agree on a framework of the technical cooperation
project with the Eritrean side.
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http://www.capitaleritrea.com/eritrea-and-japan-sign-higher-education-cooperation-agreement/
Received on Sun Dec 02 2012 - 20:03:22 EST
