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Webinar: How can universities improve their social impact?
Tune in to this upcoming webinar on "How can universities improve their social impact?" presented by University World News in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
On 25 November, the webinar will bring together experts and practitioners from across the world from the International Association of Universities, the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program in an online webinar to discuss the topic.
Make sure to register and tune in on 25 November @ 9am EDT, 2pm GMT and 4pm in Johannesburg.
https://event.webinarjam.com/register/17/rp8qlcy?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=webinarnov2020
By:
Elaina Lawrence
Monday, Aug 16, 2021
EDUCATION
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Re-Opening Libraries in the Wake of COVID-19:
https://youtu.be/PZl_ZXCKI-s
By:
Justin Rabineau
Monday, Aug 16, 2021
EDUCATION
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Call for Papers: Practices of Academic Freedom in Times of Austerity
On Twitter, Kenyan blogger Keguro Macharia (@keguro) regularly poses the question, “How will you practice freedom today?” It is a useful reminder that freedom is not only an ideal but also a practice and lived experience. The question prompts us to ask, How does one practice, rather than merely protect, academic freedom? And how can these practices be expanded and made irresistible?
As these practices are enacted in the context of austerity that curtails academic freedom, we also ask, How can collective and individual responses to austerity redefine available practices of freedom? How might posing academic freedom as a struggle over material means change our ideas and strategies? What is the relationship between academic freedom, other ideas of freedoms, and other freedom struggles? How does academic freedom function for precarious faculty and staff, for students, for tenured and tenure-track faculty from marginalized groups?
For its next volume, scheduled for publication in fall 2021, the Journal of Academic Freedom will consider any original article on the topic of academic freedom, but we are especially interested in the following topics:
Academic Freedom and Freedom Struggles
Black studies scholar Barbara Ransby observes that the Black Lives Matter movement “is nothing less than a challenge to all of us to rethink, reimagine, and reconstruct the entire society we live in.” This includes the university and practices of academic freedom. The ongoing uprisings associated with the Movement for Black Lives demand that we reconsider higher education’s physical spaces and cultural practices, including monuments and public art; classroom curricula and conversations; the peopling of the university; and the relationship between institutions and the communities they serve, or fail to serve.
Sanctuary Campuses
How do calls for sanctuary campuses affect the practice of academic freedom? What are aspirational and actually existing models of sanctuary campuses, and how do these engage broad questions of shared governance and academic freedom? How does the struggle for sanctuary campuses link higher education advocacy to broader social movements?
Pedagogy and Affect
The classroom is an important space for the practice of academic freedom. Contemporary freedom movements raise important questions about access to the classroom and diverse experiences within it. Along with the dynamic challenges posed by teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, insights from freedom struggles provide new models for teaching and learning. How do LGBTQ, disability rights, and BIPOC formations propose alternative practices of academic freedom? What are the parameters of these new models, and what opportunities and challenges do they convey?
The Material Means of Mental Production
Academic freedom is conditioned on access to resources—libraries, classrooms, research funds, time, access to a community of scholars—that are the tools that Karl Marx called the “material means of mental production.” Though the ideal of the university promises academic freedom to faculty, in reality external boards and state governors are the legal guardians of university property and ultimately control access to the instruments of knowledge production. How do academics fight to wrest control of the material means of mental production? What is the relationship of this struggle to broader social transformations? How has the imposition of austerity budgets at public and private institutions changed the terms of these struggles?
Libraries and Librarians
In the struggle for academic freedom, libraries are essential sites and librarians are essential workers. How can libraries be spaces for the expansion of academic and other freedoms? How do issues around collections, catalogs, access, reference, and information literacy affect academic freedom? How have librarians expanded academic freedom in fights against austerity budgets, profit-driven publishers, and surveillance, and in fights for open access, privacy, and freedom from harassment?
Internationalist Practices
How are practices of academic freedom different in political contexts outside of the United States? What lessons in fighting austerity emanate from other geographic contexts? How are austerity regimes outgrowths of colonial and neocolonial ones? How are practices of academic freedom also practices of decolonization?
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Electronic submissions of 2,000–8,000 words should be sent to jaf@aaup.org by February 8, 2021, and they must include an abstract of about 150 words and a short biographical note of one to two sentences about the author(s). Authors using pseudonyms must notify the journal at the time of submission, disclose their real names, and explain their reasons for wishing to keep their identities confidential. Please read our editorial policy and the complete call for papers at https://www.aaup.org/about-jaf prior to submitting. We welcome submissions by any and all faculty, staff, graduate students, and independent scholars. If you have any questions, contact faculty editors Rachel Ida Buff at rbuff@uwm.edu or S. Ani Mukherji at mukherji@hws.edu (please do not send submissions to these addresses).
Please help us get the word out about the call for papers by sharing with your colleagues. Forward this email or share a link to the AAUP website, where a PDF of the Journal of Academic Freedom call for papers is available for download. We look forward to reading your submissions!
By:
Elaina Lawrence
Monday, Aug 16, 2021
EDUCATION
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Any Solution to the Problem of No Internet for Online Learning in Rural Communities During & After COVID-19?
By:
Chris Prince Udochukwu Njoku, PhD
Monday, Aug 16, 2021
EDUCATION
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University of Nigeria, Nsukka 60th anniversary
We are excited to join MSU President Samuel Stanley in congratulating our friends at University of Nigeria, Nsukka
as they celebrate their 60th anniversary. While we wish we could celebrate with them in person, we are thrilled to continue building on the decades-long partnership between MSU and UNN. MSU and UNN worked together to establish the first land-grant institution on the continent in 1960 and both are founding members of the Alliance for African Partnership. African Studies Center | Michigan State University
has established the Nnamdi Azikiwe International African Student Fellowship, in honor of the former president of Nigeria, to support international African student travel to Africa for their research. Congratulations Lions and Lionesses on your milestone, and here’s to the next sixty years!
By:
Elaina Lawrence
Monday, Aug 16, 2021
EDUCATION
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The world needs the contribution of African scientists
Check out this University World News article on the need for more African scientists.
According to authors Marincola and Kariuki, "African science matters not only because African people matter but also because people everywhere in the world will thrive only if science is driven by the best possible talent and initiative of all the peoples of the world."
Click the link below to read more:
https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20201015080006769&fbclid=IwAR3c8vP1yTAOTXW-bH2p_6ak4_mFqREKTBdN9iRlk5jEjz3C0v8a7_wtqtk
By:
Elaina Lawrence
Monday, Aug 16, 2021
HEALTH AND NUTRITION
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Youth as Catalysts for Agricultural Transformation - Borlaug Dialogue/WFP Side Event
Follow the link to watch the Youth as Catalysts for Agricultural Transformation - Borlaug Dialogue/WFP Side Event recording. This event featured a discussion about research, programmatic and advocacy efforts underway to advance SBAE in Africa, and a call for collaboration across sectors.
Sub-Saharan Africa is home to almost one billion people. By 2050, the population of the region is expected to double, and half will be under the age of 18. Known as the “youth bulge,” this sudden population explosion will exacerbate challenges around youth employment and food security unless policymakers take decisive action, today.
By:
Elaina Lawrence
Monday, Aug 16, 2021
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
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Africa's rapid economic transformation
Check out this article co-authored by Thom Jayne, Adesoji Adelaja, and one of AAP's co-directors, Richard Mkandawire.
The article provides a powerful message of hope for Africa. In spite of wars, famine and poverty they argue that Africa has made major strides in living standards, there is clearly a new generation that provide promise for the transformation of the continent. The underlying message is that they have in the making a cadre of African entrepreneurs that are delinking from the past.
Click on the link below to read more:
https://www.rural21.com/english/current-issue/detail/article/africas-rapid-economic-transformation.html
By:
Elaina Lawrence
Monday, Aug 16, 2021
CULTURE AND SOCIETY
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Webinar: Graduate School Application and Experience in North America and Europe-Lagos Studies Assoc.
Webinars will be held October, 3, 10, 17, and 24 hosted by the Lagos Studies Association
At its annual Conference, the Lagos Studies Association organizes workshops on graduate school application and experience in North America and Europe, featuring graduate school faculty and students. Unfortunately, COVID-19 pandemic did not allow the conference to hold this year. We are happy to hold these events via Zoom Webinars on October 3, 10, 17, and 24. See full schedule below.
Graduate School Application and Experience in North America:
Perspectives from Graduate Students
Date: October 10
Time: 5-7pm (Nigeria Time)
Panelists
Chair: Tosin Gbogi (Marquette University/African Literature and Popular Culture)
Discussants
Ayodeji Adegbite (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
Samuel Kehinde Adesubokan (University of Victoria)
Esther Ajayi-Lowo (Texas Woman’s University)
Omoyemi Ajisebutu (Northwestern University)
Theophilus Okunlola (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
Yolanda Osondu (University of Calgary)
Topics for discussion include but not limited to the following:
• Preparing for the Graduate Record Examination
• Taking the Test of English as Foreign Language/Navigating waiver
• Choosing graduate program and writing statement of purpose
• Coursework, qualifying exam, and reading concentration
• Adjusting to a new academic culture
• Conducting fieldwork and sourcing for external funding
• Writing your dissertation and preparing for the job market
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86544791933?pwd=aXBuaC9zNVNnOHM0WnNIWnpyWURYZz09
Webinar ID: 865 4479 1933
Passcode: 990616
Also via LSA Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/205111409881162
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Graduate School Application and Experience in Europe:
Perspectives from Graduate School Faculty
Date: Oct. 17
Time: 5-7pm (Nigeria Time)
Panelists
Panel Chair: Oliver Coates (University of Cambridge/History)
Discussants
Shola Adenekan (University of Amsterdam/African Literature and New Media)
Simidele Dosekun (London School of Economics and Political Science/Feminist Studies)
Emilie Guitard (French National Center for Scientific Research/Anthropology)
Steven Pierce (University of Manchester/History)
Dmitri van den Bersselaar (Leipzig University /History)
Topics for discussion include but not limited to the following:
• Things to consider when picking graduate program
• Contacting prospective supervisors: Dos and Don’ts
• What admission committees look for in application dossier
• Writing competitive PhD proposal
• Funding for graduate education
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83891051455?pwd=aG8zeEwydWUvT0NScEFtOEluQjBLUT09
Webinar ID: 838 9105 1455
Passcode: 787421
Also via LSA Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/205111409881162
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Graduate School Application and Experience in Europe:
Perspectives from Graduate Students
Date: Oct. 24
Time: 5-7pm (Nigeria Time)
Panelists
Panel Chair: Peter Oderinde (University of Basel)
Discussants
Daniel Chukwuemeka (University of Bristol)
Tolulope Ilesanmi (University of Basel)
Jammie Titilayo (Technische Universität Darmstadt)
Seun Williams (The Graduate School of International and Development Studies)
Topics for discussion include but not limited to the following:
• Things to consider when picking graduate program
• Contacting prospective supervisors: Dos and Don’ts
• What admission committees look for in application dossier
• Writing competitive PhD proposal
• Funding for graduate education
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85076855946?pwd=R2MvV3RzR2RIN0NGTkp3UndXVVpiZz09
Webinar ID: 850 7685 5946
Passcode: 848810
Also via LSA Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/205111409881162
By:
Amy Jamison
Monday, Aug 16, 2021
EDUCATION
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USAID's new higher education on-line learning module--This learning module covers how investing in higher education programming can be transformational, key elements of USAID Higher Education programming, milestones and lessons, cross-cutting considerations, and higher education reporting indicators. https://www.edu-links.org/online-learning-modules#HE
By:
Amy Jamison
Monday, Aug 16, 2021
EDUCATION
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Department of State Fellows Alumnus Continued Success!
AAP is excited to share that Raymond Musiima, an MSU alumnus of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' Professional Fellows Program, recently received a grant from Comic Relief to work with young refugees in Uganda to address mental health issues through sports. The program, Obstacle Race Against Stigma and Shame, is set to launch January 2021 and continue through the end of 2024.
We congratulate you Raymond on the continued success!
By:
Elaina Lawrence
Monday, Aug 16, 2021
EDUCATION
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AAU Virtual African Academic Diasporic Homecoming Side Event
On 29 September at 12:30 PM EDT, the AAP, will be hosting a side event webinar on "Building women research leaders from African Institutions – Sharing perspectives" during the Association of African Universities Diaspora Conference.
The event will be moderated by one of our very own co-directors, Dr. Jose Jackson-Malete, and she will be joined by panelists:
- Professor Ama de-Graft Aikins, British Academy Global Professor, Institute of Advanced Studies,
UCL
- Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor of
Makerere University
- Ms. Millicent L. Liani, DELTAS PhD Fellow, Center for Capacity Research at
LSTM
- Dr. Welore Tamboura, Lecturer from
Université des Lettres et des Sciences Humaines de Bamako
Click on the link below to register:
https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oHfxIxvZRFK4igInnmb8jw?fbclid=IwAR3E-EEjSk-O0pPKUNrhIRtrLz4q2MIhSK1DAi09NkO1nPek7_ATvAT2af4
By:
Elaina Lawrence
Monday, Aug 16, 2021
CULTURE AND SOCIETY
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