Group from the U of R heading to Malawi

REGINA -- University of Regina faculty members will be heading to Malawi next Thursday to implement a project aimed at improving technical vocational training in the African nation.

The project began in 2001 when faculty members from the University of Malawi Polytechnic came to visit SIAST and expressed an interest in working with the University of Regina as well.

"They came to us and we had some initial discussions," said Abu Bockarie, a education professor and member of the adult and human resources development program at the U of R.

"Then after that we got some support from the university here to travel down to Malawi to look at the technical vocational education system there to see how we can help to build some capacity to the system."

The group, which consists of members from the U of R as well as SIAST, will spend 10 days in Malawi gathering information and drafting a revised proposal to submit to the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The agency's University Partnerships in Co-operation and Development Program is funding the project along with the federal government.

"We're going to prepare the project implementation plan. That involves looking back at the proposal that was submitted to CIDA originally, because that was done about a year ago so we look at new developments in the country, we look at new policies, etc.," explained Bockarie.

"On the basis of that we are going to update the proposal to make sure some of the things that were mentioned before are still okay and are still valid."

The group will also develop a year one work plan that will detail what they hope to accomplish from October until the end of March.

Finally, based on any revisions and new developments, the final six-year project plan will be submitted to CIDA for approval.

Bockarie said one of the key aspects of the project will be developing strategic planning processes and methods with the faculty at the Malawi university.

"There will be a workshop there, we will travel and work in Malawi to deliver the project on that particular topic," he added.

Another key topic will be the idea of fostering partnerships with other businesses, industries and organizations in Malawi.

"One of the problems they have was that the curriculum of the polytechnic vocational training down there does not meet initial developmental needs, doesn't really meet the needs of business and industry," said Bockarie.

"Part of the reason for that was because there was no collaboration, no partnership, with businesses and industries. So one of the things we want to foster is how can you work together as a partner. On this project we are working with SIAST, we are showing that a partnership is a wonderful thing."

Bockarie pointed out that the most important aspect of the project is "the notion that people should learn to work together for the benefit of society as a whole."

"Its not really about us here, it's about the people of Malawi. If we are able to build the capacity of the technical vocational education system down there, the chances are that they are going to be able to produce graduates who are employable in the public and private sectors," he explained.

"If people have the skills necessary, the competencies necessary and the abilities necessary to find jobs, that's going to help in terms of the eradication of poverty across the country. That's our hope."