Universities in southern Africa realise they need to strengthen their contributions to addressing climate change in the region, together with other knowledge partners including government, the private sector and civil society. One way of achieving this is through education.

This project has developed a Master’s curriculum in climate change and sustainable development for SADC countries that builds on the successful mapping study and knowledge co-production process delivered for Southern African Regional Universities Association (SARUA). This is the first project in the region to collaboratively develop a Master’s programme on climate change and sustainbale development.

The output from CDKN’s support is a series of core and elective modules that cover a variety of thematic areas relevant for countries in southern Africa. The curriculum is a unique, flexible and region-wide learning process that will help develop future researchers and public and private sector leaders in the SADC region.

A university consortium made up of 7 universities across five SADC countries developed the Masters:

• University of Cape Town, South Africa (coordinating university) (7 team members)
• Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique (3 team members)
• Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania (3 team members)
• Open University of Tanzania, Tanzania (1 team member)
• University of Mauritius, Mauritius (2 team members)
• University of Namibia, Namibia (2 team members)
• Rhodes University, South Africa (3 team members)

The curriculum development was supported by a capacity development process to provide regional academics with the capacity to implement the curriculum at the Universities. Workshops were carried out in the region, providing training to teams of academics from 22 Universities from 9 SADC countries that will be implementing various elements of the curriculum.

An open access online platform was developd to host the curriculum and the SARUA curriculum innovation network, as a platform for engaging with the curricullum development team, participating members of the programme (University members and non-academic stakeholders) and the curriculum itself (with options to contribute to it). Access to the platform is open via registration.

The project will also 1) scope potential e-learning opportunities for future development and training and uptake of the curriculum; and 2) establish a network of stakeholders in and outside of universities who will collaborate on knowledge production activities and curriculum development as part of the SARUA Curriculum Innovation Network.

The project forms part of the SARUA Programme for Climate Change Capacity Development (PCCCD), a multi-year programme contributing to the revitalisation of higher education in the SADC region through collaborative research, teaching and community and policy engagement. It provides a platform for regional universities to strengthen their capabilities to address climate change.

The PCCCD comprises four envisaged networks, each with a distinct focus for development:

• SARUA Macro-Research Network;
• SARUA Curriculum Innovation Network;
• SARUA Policy & Institutional Development Network;
• SARUA Capacity Development Network.

The SARUA Curriculum Innovation Network (SCIN) is the first network to be established.

Service recipient: Southern Africa Regional Universities Association (SARUA)

Read the knowledge co-production framework.

Visit the SARUA website

Collaboration as a SCIN principle

Collaborating in the Global South – lessons from the SADC higher education sector

Budget: 400,500 GBP

Dates: September 2014 to March 2017

Watch the SARUA story here:

https://youtu.be/XBjh5UAz4YE