THE World University Rankings 2011-2012

The publication of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings has become one of the key annual events in the international higher education calendar. They are used by undergraduate and postgraduate students to help select degree courses, by academics to inform career decisions, by research teams to identify new collaborative partners, and by university managers to benchmark their performance and set strategic priorities. As nations across the globe focus on the establishment of world-class universities as essential elements of a dynamic economy, our rankings are increasingly employed as a tool for governments to set national policy.

Top African Universities 2011-2012

World Rank	Institution	Country / Region
103	University of Cape Town	South Africa
251-275	Stellenbosch University	South Africa
251-275	University of Witwatersrand	South Africa
301-350	Alexandria University	Egypt

THE World University Rankings 2011-2012

World Rank	Institution	Country / Region
1	California Institute of Technology	United States
2	Harvard University	United States
2	Stanford University	United States
4	University of Oxford	United Kingdom
5	Princeton University	United States
6	University of Cambridge	United Kingdom
7	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	United States
8	Imperial College London	United Kingdom
9	University of Chicago	United States
10	University of California, Berkeley	United States

Read More Here http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2011-2012/top-400.html

MILEAD Fellows Program 2011

Moremi Initiative for Women’s Leadership in Africa is pleased to announce its call for applications for the 2011 Moremi Leadership Empowerment and Development (MILEAD) Fellows Program.

The MILEAD Fellows Program is a one-year leadership development program designed to identify, develop and promote emerging young African Women leaders to attain and succeed in leadership in their community and Africa as a whole. The program targets dynamic young women interested in developing transformational leadership skills that help them tackle issues affecting women in their communities and society as a whole. Applications are welcome from young African women living in Africa and the Diaspora.

MILEAD fellowship awards will be made to 25 young women with exceptional qualities who have exhibited leadership potential in their community, organization, and/or profession. To be eligible for the one-year program, an applicant must be African, living on the continent or in the Diaspora; agree to participate in all required activities related to MILEAD including a three-week residential Summer Institute in August; and commit to a community leadership service project. Applicant must be between 19 - 25 years of age. Specific requirements of the program and related dates are outlined in the application package.

Please note that this is not a full-time fellowship. Selected candidates may remain full time students or work full time for the program duration, except during the 3–week summer institute. The 3-week summer institute is an intensive and full-time residential program and all fellows will be required to attend. The rest of the program involves community-based, online and other distance activities.

We invite you to forward the enclosed MILEAD application materials to emerging young African Women leaders with the potential to help transform Africa.

The deadline for completed MILEAD Fellows applications to be submitted for review is March 30, 2011.

Download application Package for Year 2011 MILEAD Fellows as PDF or DOC

For more application forms or additional information, please contact: http://moremiinitiative.org/

SOUTH AFRICA'S LOW QUALITY EDUCATION AS A POVERTY TRAP

An interesting research paper that summarises some of the main findings from a large research project undertaken by the Social Policy Research Group in the Department of Economics at Stellenbosch University.

The research that this document reports on considers how the low quality of tuition offered in schools in poor communities can entrench exclusion and marginalisation. Within this system of overlapping divides, most of these categories cannot be transcended easily. Race is a social construct but a sticky one, while language and culture are, to a large extent, also social identities into which you are born. Moving to a more affluent neighbourhood is not a reliable strategy to escape poverty, as it tends to be the consequence of social mobility rather than the cause of it. This leaves education as the only viable avenue for poor people who want to enter the top end of the labour market, with all its attendant economic benefits. Education therefore has a significant role to play both in providing opportunities to individuals as well as through its potential to unravel the apartheid-era social structure and create a more cohesive and less polarised society.
Thus, while there is much scope for education to challenge and transform individual lives and social structures, at least in principle, this study demonstrates why we are seeing so little evidence of this. Our research shows that by the age of eight there are already very large gaps in the performance of school children in the top 20% of the population (top quintile) versus those in the bottom 80% (bottom four quintiles). In other words, by an early age there are already stark distinctions between the prospects of children from poorer communities and those from more affluent communities.
According to our research, the education system generally produces outcomes that reinforce current patterns of poverty and privilege instead of challenging them. Unsurprisingly, we find that the inequalities in schooling outcomes manifest via labour market outcomes, perpetuating current patterns of income inequality.

Read more here http://www.mg.co.za/uploads/2011/03/29/low-quality-educ-as-poverty-trap-report.pdf

EQUITY BANK SPONSORS 250 TOP KCSE STUDENTS TO UNIVERSITY AT A COST OF KSH 180 MILLION

Two hundred and fifty top performers in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary School examination will have their university fees paid by the Equity Bank University Sponsorship, Leadership and Mentorship programme.

The top boy and girl in the 2010 KCSE in every district that Equity Bank operates will benefit from the Bank’s internship programme, meant to nurture and develop them to become future transformational leaders.

To date, 1,050 students have benefitted from this program since its inception in 1998.The students get the rare chance for internship with Equity Bank before proceeding to university for studies. This year, Equity Bank will spend Kshs 180 million towards the programme at a cost of KShs 720,000 on each of the 250 students, which will support their university education and upkeep.

The launch of this year’s program by Equity Bank is momentous as it comes hot on the heels of the launch of the Wings To Fly scholarship fund, a nine year joint initiative between the Equity Group Foundation and The MasterCard Foundation to assist disadvantaged, but academically gifted Kenyan students pursue secondary school education. The Kshs.4 billion partnership covers tuition, books, uniforms and pocket money and shopping for 5,600 students who could not have proceeded to secondary school. This year, 1200 children received their scholarships and 400 of them joined national schools.

Speaking at the launch of this year’s program, Dr James Mwangi, the Equity Bank Managing Director and CEO said: “The achievement of quality education for Kenyan students should no longer be seen as an end in itself. Education should be holistic, imparting students with the right skills, values and mindset aimed at making them responsible and accountable citizens of this country”

He added: “The ultimate aim of the Equity University sponsorship, leadership and mentorship programme is to nurture and create social transformational leaders who will act as change agents from the grassroots to the national level,”

Dr Mwangi, who is also the chairman of Kenya’s economic blueprint Vision 2030 Delivery Board said the program was one among the several interventions that the Bank had come up with to compliment the government’s efforts in its crusade to enhance development of skills that are relevant to the growth of the economy and achievement of Kenya’s Vision 2030.

Dr Mwangi said the Equity Group Foundation would also assist the beneficiaries apply for scholarships in “Ivy League” institutions like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia and Stanford. Already, 10 of the beneficiaries of last year’s program have joined Harvard, Yale, MIT and London School of Economics. An additional four scholars have received admissions to Amherst College, Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania and Williams College in the US while one won the President’s UK scholarship Award tenable in several top UK universities.

Upon completing their university education, the scholars have an opportunity to join the Bank for permanent employment where they get a chance to utilize their skills and knowledge. The scholars are trained in not only all aspects of the banking which will form their major pre-occupation, but also on other aspects like leadership, interpersonal skills, mentorship, communication and work ethics.

Read more here http://walalahoi.ning.com

Apply for the Machel-Mandela Internship Programme – Open to Young African Graduates

The Brenthurst Foundation is inviting applications from young graduates for the newly-established Machel-Mandela Internship Programme, named in honour of former South African President Nelson Mandela and his wife Graca Machel.

The Machel-Mandela Internship programme aims to be the most prestigious of its kind in Africa. It will help sharpen the Brenthurst Foundation’s focus on Africa’s burgeoning youth population and help nurture Africa’s future leaders.

Details:

The internship will be available full-time for a minimum of six months and a maximum of two successful candidates will be selected per year. The intern may be from Africa or abroad and will be based at the Brenthurst Foundation’s headquarters in Parktown, Johannesburg. Interns will work directly with and assist the Foundation’s staff on a range of projects and activities, some of which will require foreign travel.

A stipend per month will be provided. Other expenses (travel, accommodation) may also be provided depending on the circumstances of the successful candidate and subject to agreement by the Brenthurst Foundation.

Requirements:

* Under 30 years of age
* An Undergraduate or Masters level degree
* Excellent spoken and written English. African and other languages an asset
* Excellent communication skills
* Enthusiastic and reliable, a self-starter who requires minimal oversight and management
* Able to balance deadlines and attention to detail
* Fluency in all basic IT skills
* Copy-editing and proof-reading skills an asset
* A passion for Africa and a keen interest in new thinking and strategies to strengthen Africa’s economic performance
* Broad knowledge of African politics and economics
* Familiarity with the work of the Brenthurst Foundation (please consult the website).

Submissions:

Please address your application to Ms Leila Jack and e-mail it to Leila.jack@eoson.co.za quoting ‘Machel-Mandela Intern’ in the subject line.

You will need to send:

* An up-to-date CV with references’ details
* A covering letter – no more than 500 words, outlining your interest in the position and the skills you can bring to bear
* A writing sample – this can be any piece of work, for example an essay or a published article, of any length.

The deadline for applications is 23 March 2011.

Read more here http://www.thebrenthurstfoundation.org/Machel-Mandela-Internship-Programme.htm

Youth Migration - World Bank Essay Competition 2011

Young people are on the move. Improvements in transportation, technology development and increased international trade, as well as issues such as unemployment, war, health and economic hardship have prompted more young people to migrate within and across national borders in search of work, education and a better quality of life. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates that young people between 15 and 30 years of age account for about one-third of all migrants

Nearly all young people are affected by migration in some way. Some are migrants themselves or are considering migrating abroad or within their home country. Others experience migration through the departure of friends or family members, and still others, in receiving countries, encounter the political debate on immigration and integration policies in their country and may experience cohabitation with new immigrants. Young people are major stakeholders in migration and yet youth are largely absent in the debate on international migration policies and the effects of migration on development.

The World Bank International Essay Competition 2011 would like to hear your views on the opportunities, challenges and implications of youth migration.

Questions to address in your essay / video :

1) How has migration (international or internal, in a sending or a receiving country) affected you, your family, your community, or your country?

2) How do you perceive the benefits of migration (increased opportunities for young people, remittances) versus the risks (brain drain, illegal immigration and exploitation of young immigrants)?

3) What actions can you recommend for broadening opportunities for young migrants in their countries of destination and their countries of origin?

We encourage you to draw on personal experiences when possible and focus on providing your own creative solutions for managing migration in a way that most benefits young people. You do not have to be a migrant yourself to respond on this essay, as you may refer to the experience of your friends and family or other migrants who enter, leave or move within your country. As migration is a multi-dimensional issue, please feel free to explore any aspect of migration that you relate to most, such as :

Rural to urban migration
international migration policy
role of diasporas
forced migration
integration of immigrants
migration and development
remittances
skilled migration / brain drain

Who Can Participate

The International Essay Competition is open to all young people, students and non-students alike, between the ages of 18 and 25, from all countries of the world.

If you are at least 18 and not older than 25 on May 15, 2011, you are eligible to participate.

Please note that if you were a finalist or winner of a previous World Bank International Essay Competition, you are no longer eligible to compete.

Read more here http://www.essaycompetition.org/content11_112_1

Photo by Flickr Garpoune

Undying Quest for Education

The undying quest of children in one vast part of the country and the story of determination from the harsh terrains of Turkana all in the quest for education.