The Higher Education Master's in Africa  (HEMA) Programme is a NORAD-sponsored collaborative programme involving the University of the Western Cape, University of Oslo, Makerere University and CHET.

The main objective of the project is to contribute to the strengthening of higher education in Africa through building capacity with respect to expertise on African higher education.

The main activities are the further development of two existing master's courses in Higher Education in Uganda (Makerere) and South Africa (UWC) through integrating them in a joint programme structure with each other as well as with the master's programmes in Oslo.

The HEMA programme is the first to include a focus on the complex relationship between higher education and development. The programme is linked to a research network on expertise in higher education in Africa, giving successful applicants access to the latest knowledge in the field.

The student target group is those currently involved in or aspiring to become involved in higher education, be it as administrators, researchers, policy-makers, curriculum managers or consultants. The UWC programme accepted 10 candidates at the beginning of 2008 and these students are expected to submit their theses by November 2009. A second cohort of students is currently being selected and are due commence studies in the latter part of 2009.

In November 2008, the current UWC students’ thesis proposals were presented to the UWC Faculty of Education’s Higher Degrees Committee. All the proposals were approved and their high quality was acknowledged. Current sudents and their respective research topics are as follows:

1. Angolwisye M. Mwollo-ntallima - Higher Education and Social Development: Contributions of Higher Education Student Leadership to Democracy in Tanzania
2. Biko Gwendo - Human Capital Formation in Kenya; the Interconnectedness Between the State, Higher Education Institutions and the Labour Market
3. Samuel N. Fongwa - The Contribution of Higher Education to Regional Socio-economic Development: A Case Study of the University of Buea in the Fako Region, Cameroon.
4. Hanitra Rasoanampoizina - Higher Education Policy changes in Madagascar and the Government’s Approach to Steering these Changes During the Last Two Decades (1990-2008)
5. Jennifer Sarah Hugow - The Dynamics of Policy Implementation: How Internal Visions Shape Faculty Responses To Steering In South African higher education
6. Nita Chivwara - Governance of Higher Education Demand And Supply In Malawi
7. Francois van Schalkwyk - Responsiveness as a Lever For Change: Observations at Two South African universities
8. Wanangwe D. Wanjiku - The Provision of Access and Skills Development by Private Universities in Kenya
9. Pam Watson - Contextual and Policy Positioning of Higher Education for Development: a Comparative Study of two Southern African Countries

The 2009-2011 HEMA Programme started in August 2009 and ends in July 2011.
Six students are enrolled in the programme and they recently completed an introductory module into Higher Education Studies at the University of Oslo (August 2009-October 2009).

The following students are enrolled for the HEMA programme starting August 2009.

• Mr Daniel CHIHOMBORI, Zimbabwe, M.PubAd Zimbabwe, currently Director of International Affairs, University of Zimbabwe
• Mr Lucky KGOSITHEBE, Botswana, B.Sci. (Animal Science) Botswana College of Agriculture, currently Research Assistant, Tertiary Education Council, Botswana
• Mr Domingos Jaime LANGA, Mocambique, B.A.(Hons) (Sociology) E.Mondlane, currently Junior Lecturer in Sociological Theory at Eduardo Mondlane University
• Ms Doreen Nakasaga LWANGA, Uganda, M.A. (International Affairs) Tufts, previously Projects Coordinator & Researcher, Centre for African and African Diaspora Studies, Kennesaw University
• Ms Keitumetse Gofaone LEBOTSE, Botswana, B.A. (Humanities) Botswana, Assistant Researcher, Tertiary Education Council, Botswana
• Ms Refiloe Moratuoa MOHLAKOANA, South Africa, B.A.(Hons) (Women and Gender Studies) Western Cape, previously Office Administrator and Researcher, eTV

Click here to view programme team.

For further information contact Gerald Ouma or Thierry Luescher.