Internal Publication
Education research in African contexts: traditions and new beginnings for knowledge and impact, edited by Paul Webb, Mathabo Khau and Proscovia Namubiru Ssentamu
Introduction by Paul Webb, Editor in chief:
The Centre for Educational Research Methodologies and Management in East and South Africa (CERM-ESA) has evolved as an exemplar of collaborative innovation and transformative impact across the African continent. Anchored by the partnership of five universities from Germany (University of Oldenburg), East Africa (Moi University, the University of Dar es Salaam, and the Uganda Management Institute) and South Africa (Nelson Mandela University), CERM-ESA is committed to nurturing a future-oriented educational culture while fostering mutual learning and growth among its stakeholders.
At the heart of CERM-ESA’s mission lies a dedication to strengthening higher education at postgraduate level. Positioned within the overall network of ‘Centres of African Excellence,’ supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with funds from the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, CERM-ESA provides a model of strategic intervention aimed at elevating the quality of education and expanding research capacities on the African continent.
With a rich tapestry of achievements encompassing higher education research projects, ongoing capacity-building initiatives, and a continuum of professional development opportunities, CERM-ESA stands as an example of what collaborative scholarship and collective vision can achieve. As it continues to redefine educational paradigms and empower future generations, CERM-ESA strives to exemplify the transformative potential of education as a catalyst for positive change. Over time, CERM-ESA has earned acclaim as a trusted advisor to education policymakers, actively contributing to shaping the trajectory of educational reform. Specifically, through collaborative initiatives with the Ministry of Education in Kenya and the establishment of a Dean’s Forum across the country (Kenya), CERM-ESA has earned its status as a respected player in shaping educational policy and practice.
As one of thirteen Centres of Excellence in sub-Saharan Africa, each tailored to address the disciplinary focus area of the Centres in each host university, CERM-ESA distinguishes itself with its primary focus on modernising educational paradigms. The chapters in this book highlight some of the work done by CERM-ESA (DAAD) scholarship holders that are the result of cultivating robust networks across German, East African and South African partners.
In the realm of higher education, CERM-ESA scholarship holders embarked on a journey of exploration and innovation, delving into diverse facets of educational practice, research and pedagogy through collaborative inquiry and scholarly reflection, including co-supervision of postgraduate research across the participating universities. The work of the scholarship holders in this book (all but Chapter 15) illuminates an evolving landscape of academia and its impact on society. The first part of the book focuses on current issues in higher education at African universities, while the second part presents findings from school-based research and school–society interactions. Several of the chapters explore research methods that specifically respond to the contextual conditions of the East and South African education sites, in order to increase the relevance for these contexts. The final review chapter by Michael Anthony Samuel critiques the portrayal of Africa as needing saviours, emphasising that solutions already exist within local projects that go beyond elitist and external agendas.
Author: Webb, Paul | ORCID: ttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4118-8973
Co-author: Khau, Mathabo | ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8933-0553
Co-author: Namubiru Ssentamu, Proscovia | ORCID: ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4853-3968
Institution: Nelson Mandela University | Centre: East and South African-German Centre for Educational Research, Methodologies and Management (CERM-ESA)
Type: Book | English | Peer Reviewed
Subjects: Education
Publisher of document: Somerset West, Cape Town: African Minds. ISBN: 978-1-0672535-0-9 (paper), EISBN: 978-1-0672535-1-6 (eBook), EISBN: 978-1-0672535-2-3 (ePub)
Date: 2024 | Pages: x, 262
https://www.africanminds.co.za/education-research/
Copyright: © 2024 African Minds | License: Open Access: CC BY 4.0
