Times Higher Education (THE) has taken a significant step in its commitment to advancing higher education in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by introducing its inaugural SSA University Rankings advisory board. Comprising 11 eminent members hailing from across the SSA region and beyond, this diverse and gender-balanced board is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the methodology and objectives of the forthcoming SSA University Rankings.

This newly formed board, a counterpart to THE's other influential rankings boards, such as the Impact Rankings, World University Rankings, and Arab University Rankings boards, will serve as a structured mechanism for feedback and exploration of potential enhancements to the ranking methodology.

The esteemed members of the SSA board include luminaries from various academic and professional backgrounds:

1. Patrick Awuah (Ghana): Founder and President of Ashesi University, and former Microsoft Program Manager.
2. Chioma Blaise Chikere (Nigeria): Professor of environmental microbiology and biotechnology at the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
3. Hossein Masoumi Karakani (South Africa): Senior institutional researcher at the University of Pretoria and a distinguished data scientist.
4. Sylvia Kunkyebe (Ghana): An expert working with the Mastercard Foundation, focusing on student transitions and industry collaborations.
5. Violet Makuku (Zimbabwe): Director of the Global Quality Assurance Association, with previous roles in quality assurance at Zimbabwean universities.
6. Ato Micah (Ghana): Founder of Maverick Research, specializing in market and social research.
7. Ahmed Ibrahim Nageye (Somalia): Higher education adviser to the Minister of Education, Culture, and Higher Education of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
8. Darius Mogaka Ogutu (Kenya): Director of higher education at Kenya’s Ministry of Education, with extensive experience in policy shaping.
9. Angela Owusu-Ansah (Ghana): Provost and professor at Ashesi University, advocating for higher education quality.
10. Linda du Plessis (South Africa): Vice-Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for planning and campus operations at the North-West University.
11. Juliet Thondhlana (UK): Professor and Unesco chair in international education and development at the University of Nottingham.

It's important to note that while these board members may have affiliations with specific institutions, their participation will be in an individual capacity and not as representatives of their respective organizations. Their collective expertise, spanning diverse areas of academia and research, will be instrumental in shaping the future strategy for THE's SSA University Rankings, furthering the organization's commitment to transparency and excellence in its ranking systems.

 

Article by Jed Mwangi

Photo/THE

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/blog/introducing-our-sub-saharan-africa-university-rankings-advisory-board