SUEUAA Project Blog

One of the key elements of the Manila meeting was the knowledge exchange capacity of the meeting- particularly for the SUEUAA partners to highlight and discuss the issues facing their city, and also how their University is engaged in the Third Mission to seek to create solutions to these global challenges.

The Philippine Normal University through the Linkages and International Office (LIO) hosted the International Forum on Strengthening Urban Engagement of Universities in Africa and Asia last 28-29 August 2018.

This is the first blog of our series summarising the experience of the SUEUAA team in Manila, the Philippines. The visit to the Philippines marked the halfway point in our study, and consisted of a team meeting with the international team members, a symposium for external audience from the Philippines who are interested in closer working relationships between Universities and the City, and a city tour for the team members to receive a first hand experience of some of the issues affecting Manila. 

Here is the Interim Report for Dar-es-Salaam City:

The purpose of the research project: Exploring how good is our community engagement? i.e.
 

many ways in which higher education providers, their staff and students connect and share their knowledge, skills and experience with a whole variety of interests within the region in which they are located

Here is the Interim Report for Duhok:

The interviews and the outcome with the partner expert groups in Duhok
 

• Duhok Government departments;
• Universities colleges:University of Duhok and Duhok Polytechnic University;
• Privatesector.

Here is the Interim Report for Johannesburg:

Execution: Time line
 

• December 2017: Brief in Glasgow: attended by Ms Nickey Janse van Rensburg
• 20 April 2018: SUEUAA project introduction: Arranged and facilitated by Ms Nickey Janse van Rensburg.
• 6 July 2018: Prof Elana Swanepoel tasked to execute the project
• 10 July 2018: First interview conducted; total of 9 interviews conducted
• 6 August 2018: Focus group: University academics
• 7 August 2018: Focus group: City representatives
• 8 August 2018: 9thinterview conducted –last one
• 8 August 2018: all voice recordings delivered to transcriber
• 16 August 2018: all transcriptions send to Glasgow
• 16 August 2018: analyses of results commence
• 16-23 August 2018: Report compiled

Here is the Interim Report for Manila:

Barangay (Major) Needs and Issues in Sta. Ana Manila
 

• Poverty and Unemployment
• Drug Abuse
• Domestic Violence
• Accumulation of Trash
• Peace and Order
• Typhoon and Flooding
• Bullying
• Drop-out Rates
• Conflict among Barangay Leaders
• Petty Theft
• Alcoholism
• Teenage Pregnancies

Here is the Interim Report for Sanandaj:

Main Issues Affecting Sanandaj
 

• Environmental (environmental mismanagement ,-dust, waste, and climate change) ;
• Social/Cultural (depressed and hopeless) ;
• Population (young population, high illiteracy rate in the country,
• Health (health indicators has been improved, infant mortality lowered and life expectancy increased to 76 in 2015 ;
• Economic; (rich in oil, gold and other minerals resources but low income, unemployment, poverty)
• Political (ruling minorities and discriminative and unjust policy SUEUAA

Here is the Interim Report for Harare:

Situation Analysis: A paradox of poverty and underdevelopment in a ‘resource-rich’ country
 

• Zimbabwe is endowed with huge mineral deposits and other natural resources;
• Investment in education generally, has remained a government priority since Independence in 1980 -Universities increased from one to 20;
• However, underdevelopment, poverty, hunger, corruption and numerous other challenges persist in spite of these resources;
• The Government has since directed that universities should play a more active role in addressing these challenges and play a catalytic role in national development.