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A Critical Analysis of the Role of African Universities in Democracy and Social Justice

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Assembling and Governing the Higher Education Institution

Abstract

Recent decades have witnessed a changing landscape in African higher education (HE). Major reforms have spawned drastic changes in student enrolment, revenue diversification, external quality assurance mechanisms and governance structures. At the regional level, the African Union (AU) set out the goal of “complete revitalization of higher education in Africa” for the period 2006 to 2015. We examine the role of the African University and interrogate the AU’s goal of “complete revitalization” to see whether it has implications on re-positioning African universities so that they can play important roles in the promotion of and respect for democracy and social justice. The African continent is confronted by social justice issues, including limited access to higher education, health facilities and food due to abject poverty.

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Akalu, G.A., Kariwo, M. (2016). A Critical Analysis of the Role of African Universities in Democracy and Social Justice. In: Shultz, L., Viczko, M. (eds) Assembling and Governing the Higher Education Institution. Palgrave Studies in Global Citizenship Education and Democracy. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-52261-0_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-52261-0_15

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-52260-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-52261-0

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