Nature: Losing Faculties

The situation for higher education in Africa might look bleak, but it is far from hopeless. Most institutions recognize the challenges they face and some have begun to reform their policies. For example, to help address the country's chronic skills shortage, Zambia is considering eliminating the mandatory retirement age of 55 years for faculty in the sciences. The University of Nairobi has doubled faculty salaries twice in the past 8 years. As universities and donor organizations increase efforts to bolster basic higher education, it is important to remember that science and technology will not by itself be sufficient to meet Africa's daunting challenges.  Science and technology adds value to society only if it is part of a 'national innovation system' that increases the ability of a nation's institutions and infrastructure to create and commercialize products for economic and societal use. Article here.