Strengthening universities Higher education during COVID-19: A Snapshot of Digital engagement in Commonwealth Universities

This article addressing the theme “shifts and changes in the research landscape” builds upon the proposition in a recent Association of Commonwealth Universities article Strengthening universities Higher education during COVID-19: a snapshot of digital engagement in Commonwealth universities. It also reflects on my recent post on the University World News, Chequered value chain of academic research and publishing (25 July 2020) where I highlighted China’s shifts from Anglo-Saxon publication outlets and what this might mean for African scholarship. I pointed out that “Quality, process and impact – the unholy trinity of academic research and their chequered value chain when it comes to service to society.”

It is against the backdrop of research quality that international collaborations becomes an imperative and aligned with the sustainable development goals, especially SDG17. In recent weeks, if not days, African universities have been celebrating inclusion on the Times Higher Education (THE) World University rankings with the highest entrant from Nigeria placing outside the top-400 globally. Whether is calls for celebration is another matter. Meanwhile, as I have previously pointed out, “just like their counterparts in other emerging market contexts, African scholars should consider setting themselves more realistic targets or ‘upping’ their game in terms of research rigour in order to cope with the real or perceived American hegemony in this area.” 

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