Higher Level Distance Education through UN Structures

Theme: African-focused research. Author: Dr KJ de Beer Key words: African-focused research African Council for Distance Education Africanisation Commonwealth of Learning Peacekeeping Correspondence Instruction for African soldiers Regionalisation UNESCO UNITAR UNITWIN World Technological University Title of paper: COLLABORATION FOR HIGHER LEVEL DISTANCE EDUCATION THROUGH UNITED NATIONS STRUCTURES IN AFRICA Dr KJ de Beer Director: Distance Education Central University of Technology, Free State South Africa COLLABORATION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION THROUGH UNITED NATIONS STRUCTURES IN AFRICA DR KJ DE BEER CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY FREE STATE SOUTH AFRICA Abbreviated Abstract: The United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Paris) is an unbiased international body which could accommodate all the bi-lateral technological ventures of the African continent simultaneously merging it multilaterally with the best academic institutions throughout the world. Especially with the United Nations Institute for Training and research (Genève) and the World technological University (Russia) in the fields of education, research and production. However, it will be farcical to reason that only technological based institutions, i.e. universities of technology, technical and vocational institutions, will redress the educational imbalances of Africa at large. Because Africanisation forms part and parcel of the global educational paradigm change which aims to educate the whole person from pedagogical to andragogical levels. An holistic universal education system is therefore necessary to develop a new technological infrastructure in which all academic teaching and technological training (co-operative instruction) can contribute towards concerted endeavors to enhance the process in developing countries. Africanisation can solve political and cultural problems independently but can not foster a united socio-economic infrastructure through technological training in isolation. Future outcomes will inevitable be determined by interdisciplinary and globalised destinations of all Higher Level Education institutions, not only in developed and developing countries but within a whole new world order. Within this scenario the African council for Distance Education (ACDE) combines all the relevant role players to foster continental and global collaboration in open and distance learning. (OLTDE, 2004) When the programme UNITWIN/Chairs UNESCO in Paris, France, were launched in 1991, UNESCO set up an effective instrument to reinforce the twinning between higher education institutions for the advancement of knowledge. (UNESCO Chairs, 1998) UNITAR has been given the mandate to promote training and research in order to enhance the effectiveness of the United Nations. Training through partnerships and networks: UNITAR is able to link its research with the expertise of African and other international institutions.