Research universities to shape Africa's future success

Recognition that universities - and research universities in particular - are critical to development and to building knowledge economies will enable Africa to grow its prosperity for the next 50 years, African Union chair Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said last week.

Renewed focus on building research universities in an African context and a drive to increase the number of PhDs was taking place within a broader understanding that universities could help drive the continent to be a global leader.

The 20th anniversary of South Africa's transition to democracy and 50th for the Organisation of African Unity - now the African Union - provided an enriched environment in which discussion on how Africa can propel its future development could take place.

"This context includes work to consolidate development lessons from the first 50 years