A SADC regional response to the SDGs Regional Collaboration Case Study: Master’s Programme in Climate Change and Sustainable Development Piyushi Kotecha Chief Executive Officer: SARUA Presented by Prof Ihron Rensburg Vice-Chancellor, University of Johannesburg 21 March 2017
Introduction • The Southern African Regional Universities Association March 2017 (SARUA) launched a Programme for Climate Change Capacity Development in 2010. The intent was to address climate change’s impact on southern Africa as a shared SARUA Programme for Climate Chance Capacity threat and knowledge gap to which universities need to respond in a coordinated way. • Between 2012 and 2017 the programme progressed Development through multiple phases which culminated in the launch of an open access Master’s curriculum in climate change and sustainable development in 2016. • The programme has become a regional flagship and a replicable model for collaboration, aimed at revitalising higher education in the SADC community. 2
About SARUA March 2017 The Southern African Regional Universities Association (SARUA) is a membership-based organisation of Vice-Chancellors of public and private universities in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). SARUA Programme for Climate Chance Capacity SARUA’s purpose is: 1. To promote, strengthen and increase higher education, training and research through institutional collaboration and Development capacity-building initiatives across the SADC region. 2. To promote SADC universities as major contributors towards national and regional socio-economic development. SARUA’s purpose responds directly to the SADC Protocol on Education and Training (2000) 3
SADC at a glance March 2017 • 15 countries, including two Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the world’s SARUA Programme for Climate Chance Capacity 4 th largest island • 277 million people • 33% of Africa’s land area • 25% of Africa’s population Development • 109 public universities and 515 technical universities/colleges (2012*) • Fast-growing private university sector: 467 accredited institutions (2012*) • Three major university languages of tertiary instruction and research: • English • Portuguese • French 4 * SARUA. 2012. A Profile of Higher Education in Southern Africa. Vol 1: A Regional Perspective
Impact of climate change on SADC • Southern Africa is highly vulnerable to climate change due to March 2017 the severity of projected changes, structural problems e.g. poverty, and relatively low levels of adaptive capacity. • Water availability, land degradation, loss of biodiversity and SARUA Programme for Climate Chance Capacity health threats constrain food security, development and poverty reduction. • Climate change will compound many of these interlinked problems for regional livelihoods and economies, many of Development which are natural resource based. • Observed temperature changes for southern Africa are higher than global increases , and projections show a 3.4°C increase in annual temperature (up to 3.7°C in spring). 2080 – 2099 with increased greenhouse gas scenario 5
SARUA PCCCD: Long term vision • In 2010, SARUA member Vice-Chancellors initiated the SARUA March 2017 Programme for Climate Change Capacity Development with the following vision: SARUA Programme for Climate Chance Capacity “To significantly enhance the climate adaptive capacity and resilience of the SADC region through the development of a collaborative network of higher Development education institutions capable of pooling resources, maximising the value of its intellectual capital and attracting significant investment into the region.” SARUA Programme for Climate Change Capacity Development across the SADC Higher Education Sector - PROGRAMME DOCUMENT. Validated at the 2 nd meeting of the DVC Working Group on 17th November 2011 6
2010: Framework for action • The 2010 Framework for Action on Climate Change and March 2017 Adaptation in Higher Education in SADC acted upon the real challenge of climate change as a shared threat and knowledge gap which required a regional response: SARUA Programme for Climate Chance Capacity • to create awareness and to sensitise communities, governments and the private sector about the risks of climate variability and change for development prospects in the region; • to significantly improve research and knowledge generation on Development climate change, adaptation measures and the associated costs and benefits; • to better disseminate information and knowledge amongst all stakeholders; • to strengthen regional scientific policy development and implementation as well as institutional capacity; and • to improve regional capacity for active participation in international policy networks. 7
2013-2014: Regional mapping study • In 2013, SARUA with the funding support of the Climate and March 2017 Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) conducted a regional Climate Change Counts mapping study to verify and define regional climate change knowledge and research gaps. SARUA Programme for Climate Chance Capacity • The study was a bottom-up process of engagement to define a regional knowledge production agenda. Development 8
Climate Change Counts mapping study March 2017 Needs • Volume 1, Number 1: analysis of Knowledge Co-Production Framework SADC 12 countries 1 • Full Report [English / French stakeholder / Portuguese] priorities on SARUA Programme for Climate Chance Capacity • climate Volume 2: Country Reports 1654 stakeholders • Number 1: Angola change [Portuguese version available] + • Number 2: Botswana 563 workshop attendees • Number 3: Malawi Development • Number 4: Mauritius • Number 5: Mozambique [Portuguese version Institutional 349 survey responses available] assessment of • Number 6: Namibia • SADC Number 7: Seychelles 2 • Number 8: South Africa university 1595 pages of analysis • Number 9: Swaziland capacity to • Number 10: Tanzania address needs • Number 11: Zambia identified • Number 12: Zimbabwe 9 Available at www.sarua.org
Key implications for regional knowledge co-production from the mapping study March 2017 Strengthen university / Strengthen the role and stakeholder partnerships status of Climate for Climate Compatible Compatible Development Development at national science and technology SARUA Programme for Climate Chance Capacity and sub-regional levels Expand the role that Strengthen Higher Invest in a pro-active researchers in Africa are Education sector and approach to institutional playing in the area of university leadership Development development pathways to Climate Compatible commitment to Climate create ‘critical mass’ Development Compatible Development Review university policies Implement policy and campus management interventions at national practices to include Initiate a process of staff level which facilitate Climate Compatible capacity development international co-operation Development ‘modelling’ across the region in Climate Compatible and more student Development research participation 10
Recommended networks to establish A Regional Knowledge Co-Production Framework was published in 2014 March 2017 which recommended the establishment of four collaborative networks: Curriculum Innovation Network: to develop shared curricula and courseware with an emphasis on the SARUA Programme for Climate Chance Capacity inter-disciplinary study of climate change issues Macro Research Network: comprising up to seven transdisciplinary research clusters, to collaboratively produce new climate change knowledge relevant to the region Development Capacity Development Network: to build human capacity within SADC universities related to teaching and learning, research, community engagement and institutional management Policy and Institutional Development Network: to strengthen institutional leadership and networks in order to better inform and influence regional climate change policy 11
Knowledge Co-production Framework SARUA Programme for Climate Chance Capacity 12 March 2017 Development
2015: Prioritisation required • The mapping study identified research, capacity development, March 2017 curriculum innovation, institutional development and policy advocacy as the key collaboration areas for universities, each linked to a recommended network. SARUA Programme for Climate Chance Capacity • Funding was secured for one network to be established and a choice had to be made where to start. • SARUA decided to prioritise the SARUA Curriculum Innovation Network (SCIN) to be a catalyst for change. Development 13
HE enrolments in SADC are lagging March 2017 “If SADC countries continue along their current higher education trajectory without making significant changes, the region is projected to achieve a 16,3 per SARUA Programme for Climate Chance Capacity cent higher education enrolment rate by 2050. This progress is insufficient when compared to the current global gross tertiary enrolment ratio of 30 per cent, and Development will erode the future of higher education institutions in the region.” Piyushi Kotecha, CEO: SARUA Presentation to Extraordinary Meeting of SADC Ministers of Higher Education and Training, 2012 14
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