African-Spectrum Online


AFRICAN-SPECTRUM
June 2000	Volume II - Issue 3

ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY BOOSTS LINKS WITH AFRICAN INSTITUTIONS

By Nii Okaijah

Indeed, Africa and Chicago State University (CSU) are hemispheres apart, but old and new ties are drawing them together.

In an effort to boost education links with African institutions, CSU President Elnora Daniel was among more than 100 education, business and cultural leaders who accompanied Governor George Ryan o his recent visit to South Africa. At the same time, Dr. Adama Conteh, director of CSU’s Office of International Affairs and former first lady of Sierra Leone, visited Ghana for discussions with President Jerry Rawlings and the country’s education leaders about joint educational programs.

During her South African visit, Daniel visited educational and cultural institutions in Pretoria, Cape Town and Robben Island where Nelson Mandela, the country’s black president, had been imprisoned for 27 years. Daniel also met with a number of presidents and chancellors of various universities and technikrons to discuss the possibility of increased student, faculty and staff exchanges between CSU and their institutions.

"I am happy I had the opportunity of visiting South Africa with the governor. It afforded me the opportunity to meet with presidents and chancellors of several Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDI) and technikrons," said Daniel. "We had very productive discussions and agreed in principle to increase student, faculty and staff exchanges."

Daniel also met with the Chief of Staff and the Deputy Chief of Staff for United Negro College Fund in South Africa. The CSU president’s visit to South Africa came at an opportune time in education relations with that country. "The internationalization of higher education is a relatively new phenomenon in South Africa. In fact, South African universities have only recently established international offices. The number of international students, researchers and faculty who want to be associated with South African universities is steadily increasing," according to an African expert.

Under former President Dolores Cross, CSU initiated moves towards establishing relations with South African institutions including the University of the North. Cross visited South Africa three times and served as University of the North’s senior consultant in formulating strategies for a post-apartheid higher education system. Dr. Njabulo Ndebele, then vice chancellor of the University of North, also visited CSU twice for consultations with Cross and receiving honorary degree in Humane Letters.

CSU professors and administrations have also visited South Africa to lend their expertise. George West, CSU’s former financial aid director, visited the University of the North to help restructure its financial aid system. "I say students eager and determined to complete their university education in order to help with the building of the new South Africa," he said. "However, this can only be accompanied if they are given support such as the assistance CSU is trying to provide."

During the 1995-98 academic year, CSU faculty and staff collected 3,000 books covering every discipline for students of the University of the North.

CSU’s efforts at reaching out to South Africa are not limited to helping one school. As word spread about CSU, other South African universities with large black student populations and those planning to recruit more blacks sought to develop relations. Consequently, top-level delegations visited CSU from the University of Fort Hare, University of Pretoria, University of Port Elizabeth, University of Western Cape, University of Natal and Potchefstroom University.

Since then, several South Africans have taken courses at CSU. They include Laura Machaba, who completed her business degree at the university and is currently a graduate student at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Paul Sassman, a graduate student, is currently pursuing a master’s degree in education at CSU.

In addition to South Africa, CSU has also initiated contacts with some African countries. Representatives of CSU and the University of Ghana at Legon and the University of Development Studies at Tamale have held discussions at about developing educational exchanges. In 1997, Dr. Raymond Dening, vice chancellor of the University of Development Studies, visited CSU and had discussions with the then president Avan Billimoria about the possibility of student, faculty and staff exchanges. Dr. Dan McKwartin, former CSU political science professor who is now with the University of Ghana, initiated discussions between the two institutions for exchange programs. A group of CSU students will arrive in Ghana in July on an educational tour. Another group will visit Senegal and Gambia on a similar mission.

Under CSU President Daniel, who assumed the university’s presidency in 1998 after more than three decades of administrative, consultative and grantsmanship experience in the US and other parts of the world, the university is enhancing its links with African institutions. Daniel’s international reputation is reflected in her appointment by the W.K. Kellog Foundation to serve in the area of regulatory health care reform to Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Swaziland. Additionally, she serves as a consultant for Operation Smile International in Liberia, Kenya and Ghana.

Another significant factor, which enhances the promotion of CSU-African ties, is the number of Africans employed by the university. CSU employs about 30 African professors and professionals including Katey Assem, executive director of the CSU Foundation, Dr. Joseph Balogun, dean of the College of Health Sciences, Dr. Tadesse Giorgis, chairperson of the Psychology Department and Nicholas Thompson, associate director of Public Affairs. In addition, Dr. Walter Trost, the founder of Mawuli Secondary School in Ghana is now a professor of biological sciences at CSU.

"We are in an African world at CSU," a faculty member commented. "By linking up with African institutions we are working towards our common aspiration to help uplift our people worldwide.

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