Building Stronger Universities in Developing Countries. First Phase, August 2011 July 2013

Transcription

1 Building Stronger Universities in Developing Countries First Phase, August 2011 July 2013 Inception Report November 2011

2 2 Introduction In agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the BSU initiative has set out with an inception period to allow the four platforms to advance their planning and revise their workplans and budgets. The four inception reports are attached. Some general information on the progress in the planning of the platform activities and the consolidation of the organisational setup should be highlighted. Refleions and responses to the recommendations from the international panel of eperts and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs The recommendations from the panel of eperts and the comments and conditions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been thoroughly discussed, both at central level in Universities Denmark and in the platform steering committees. In particular, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasis on the importance of keeping focus on institutional capacity building has been deliberated upon. As a result, a Note on the Capacity Building concept (anne 1) has been developed and shared with the Ministry. The note describes how the institutional capacity building approach will be dealt with in the initial two-year phase of the BSU project. Further, it is envisaged that the first phase will generate findings of importance for the development of the strategy for the later stages. In a crosscutting review and at joint workshops the lessons learnt from phase one will be identified and discussed in preparation for phase two. Based on the discussions and a close dialogue with the South partners, all four platforms in various ways have clarified the institutional capacity building approach and adjusted their workplans and budgets accordingly. Detailed LFAs have been developed, including indicators at output level. The BSU structures at both central level and platform level have worked on efficient and simple ways to manage the request for co-funding. A Liste over aktiviteter, der typisk kan tælle med som DU medfinansiering til BSU aktiviteter (anne 2) has been developed, which has been shared with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The note has a section of items for co-funding of the platforms leadership and a section of items for co-funding of activities. The identified units form the basis for the calculation of the in-kind funding in the platforms workplans and budgets, as can be seen from the platform reports, and they will be the basis for the reporting of the in-kind co-funding. The practical procedures for the reporting, formats etc. are being worked on. Consolidation of the organisational structure The main organisational structure for the BSU is unchanged. The Rectors Conference is the overall responsible for the project. It is being assisted by a Working Group with representatives from all the Danish Universities, ecept the IT University, and by a project manager based at the Universities Denmark secretariat. Each platform has a Danish Platform Steering Committee with representatives from the involved universities. The chairperson and deputy-chairperson are both appointed by the Rectors Conference. The Steering Committee is supported by a platform secretariat with a coordinator, based at a host university. The Danish Platform Steering Committee approves the overall platform activity plans and budgets and guides the division of tasks and responsibilities between the Danish partners and reports to Universities Denmark. The

3 3 platform secretariat manages funds and organises and coordinates the collaboration among the involved universities in Denmark and in the South. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Universities Denmark and each of the partner universities in the South has been developed and agreed upon (anne 3). The MoU outlines the structure and contents of the collaboration between the parties. Likewise, a draft Letter of Agreement (LoA) between the platforms and their South partners has been developed. The platforms have tailor-made the LoA to meet the needs for each of the partnerships, specifying the scope and contents of the cooperation, the organisational setup, the administrative and reporting obligations, the workplan and budget etc. The close cooperation between the BSU Working Group, the platform Steering Committees and coordinators, their South partners and the BSU project manager has continued in the inception phase. There has been a close collaboration on development of guiding rules, regulations and procedures with emphasis on efficiency and the utilisation of synergies. Across the platforms there has been a keen interest in identifying areas for cooperation and for cross-cutting activities; an effort that will continue throughout the first phase. Final selection of South partners During the inception phase the number of core South partners has been reduced from 13 to 11, since the Platform for Stability, Democracy and Rights has decided to postpone a full partnership with two Kenyan universities to a later stage, due to the limited financial resources of the platform. Matri 1: Partner cooperation. Environment & Climate Growth & Employment Human Health University of Ghana KNUST, Ghana Maseno University, Kenya Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Tanzania National Institute for Medical Research, Tanzania Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania State University of Zanzibar Zanzibar College of Health Sciences Gulu University, Uganda Tribhuvan University, Nepal Stability, Democracy & Rights

4 4 Three of the platforms have joint South partners. The platforms are much aware of the potential for cooperation and synergy, both in the organisational setup and in the running of activities, as described in more detail in the reports. Budget overview Detailed budgets have been developed for each platform. For an overview, see table 1. Table 1: Total BSU budget per year. DKK, thousands Total Environment & Climate Platform Growth & Employment Platform Human Health Platform Stability, Democracy & Rights Platform Central administration, monitoring, reviews etc. Total Until now most activities have been on planning, while for the rest of the period a high level of activities is envisaged across all four platforms. Risks and assumptions The risks and assumptions presented in the application are still valid. No developments have occurred causing major changes in the assessment at the general level. Annees 1. Note on the Capacity Building concept 2. Liste over aktiviteter, der typisk kan tælle med som DU medfinansiering til BSU aktiviteter 3. MoU, with University of Ghana as an eample 4. Budget for central coordination, monitoring and preparations of net phase The four platform inception reports are forwarded separately.

5 5 Anne 1 Note on the Capacity Building concept Bevillingstilsagn/Letter of Grant: Vægten vil være på langsigtet institutionel kapacitetsopbygning inden for forskning, uddannelse og forskningsformidling. UN (Economic and Social Council, 2006) defines capacity development as the process by which entities develop abilities to perform functions, solve problems and set and achieve objectives. It needs to be addressed at three inter-related levels: individual, institutional and societal. In the initiative Building Stronger Universities (BSU) reference to capacity building is given to institutional capacity building, suggesting that the entity for which capacity will be built is the University in question. Individual capacity building (e.g. PhD level research or training and mentoring of employees) should be seen as an integral part of institutional capacity building and not as a standalone activity. The initiative should be aligned with other initiatives and build upon areas of internationally recognised strengths among the Danish partner universities. At the initial stages of the BSU initiative the support to regulatory contet as well as infrastructural investment will be etremely limited. In the BSU project the institutional capacity building concept in relation to the South universities will emphasize; strengthening the capacity of the institution to develop and implement education and research programmes and effectively disseminate the research results The project will include capacity development activities in the partner institutions in the following areas; development and strengthening relevant PhD programmes (PhD courses, supervision guidelines, training of supervisors) support the capacity to undertake research based education and supervision within selected areas of research by increasing the number of academic staff with PhD qualifications (PhD scholarships) strengthening relevant research capacity and international collaboration (joint research projects and research networks) strengthening methods and capacity for effective dissemination of research results and findings to stakeholders (PhD courses, senior staff training and web development) building capacity for effective and efficient management of activities (mentor programs and staff training) building capacity for effective eternal fundraising (support to fundraising units and proposal development) Source: UN, Economic and Social Council, Definition of basic concepts and terminologies in governance and public administration, October 2011 J.nr ASA

6 Anne 2 6 Liste over aktiviteter, der typisk kan tælle som DKUNI medfinansiering til BSU initiativet Medfinansiering af ledelse af platformene Medlemmer af styregrupper i DK (bidrag per styregruppemedlem 2 uger per år). Formandskab for styregrupperne (bidrag 3-5 mdr. per år per formand og 1-2 mdr. per år per næstformand). Medlemmer af DU ulandsgruppe (1 uge per medlem per år). Danske platformsrepræsentanters deltagelse i Partnership Steering Committees (2 uger per år per medlem). Danske platformsrepræsentanters deltagelse i Working Groups (afhængig af det konkrete organisatoriske setup) Medfinansiering af aktiviteter under platformene PhD vejledningsmedfinansiering (1 mdr. per år per PhD med vejleder fra et dansk universitet (udover den måned per år der betales via BSU). Evt. PhD registreringsomkostning ved danske universiteter. Medvirken til udvikling af PhD/kandidat kurser Eksisterende forsknings/ uddannelse/ kapacitetsopbygningsprojekter (samlet sum eller relevant delsum) der overlapper med de lande, institutioner og indsatsområder, hvor platformen er aktiv, dog ikke projekter der allerede er finansieret af Udenrigsministeriet. Evt. lønbidrag fra danske forskeres gæsteophold ved universitet i syd. Deltagere fra platformspartnere i syd ved kurser (i DK, i regionen eller webbased) der udbydes af danske universiteter, men som ikke indgår i platformsbudgettet. Brugen af eksisterende eller nyt undervisningsmateriale, der udvikles og indgår i platformskurser i syd, men som ikke er dækket af platformsbudgettet. Bench fee (office space, software, office supplies, lab. equipment, IT services etc.) ved ophold af gæsteforskere fra syd ved institutioner i DK (ca kr. per år for tør bench fee). Støtte til IT og webudvikling, udover hvad der indgår i platformsbudgettet. Støtte til udvikling af PhD administration, udover hvad der indgår i platformbudget.

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11 Anne 4. Budget - Central administration, monitoring and preparations of net phase; in DKK Total Salary, project manager Epenses for trips abroad and local travel Operational costs of secretariat Cross-cutting analysis of the achievements on the immediate objective (consultancy fee, including travel and accommodation) Workshop on institutional capacity building in the HE sector, North-South participants (including travel and accommodation) Conference with presentation of results and findings from the project and identification of areas for further collaboration Establishing an intranet platform for information and communication across the platforms and partners, North and South Publications with findings and results from the initiative and an updated information folder; lump sum for technical assistance, printing and distribution Preparation of proposal for 2nd phase (fact-finding and needs assessment, lessons learnt & formulation workshops w. North-South participants) Review of proposals (fee, travel and accommodation) Sub-total Administration fee, 20% Audit TOTAL Notes: 1. The budget lines for joint platform activities are best estimates. The detailed planning may raise a need for revision of the distribution.