A.  Introduction

The African Union (AU), regards education as a key instrument in achieving its vision of developing quality human resources and contributing towards increased mobility of Africans around the continent. In implementing the Plan of Action for the Second Decade of Education for Africa, the AU Commission has embarked on a process of promoting quality assurance and developing a framework for harmonization of Higher Education Programmes in Africa.

Within the context of an increasing focus on the revitalization of higher education in Africa, the African Union Commission has engaged in a process of developing a Strategy for Harmonization of Higher Education Programmes (AU HEP Harmonization Strategy). This strategy is aimed at supporting the higher education development efforts of relevant agencies, initiatives, and programmes at continental and regional levels by providing an integrated platform for dialogue and action. The strategy further aims to strengthen the capacity of higher education institutions through innovative forms of collaboration and ensuring that the quality of higher education is systematically improved against commonly agreed benchmarks of excellence. Over time, this should facilitate mobility of graduates and academics across Africa.

It is for the above that the Association of African universities (AAU) on behalf of the AU Commission, and in collaboration with Neil Butcher, the Harmonization Consultant, is commencing an internet discussion on the above.

The focus of the AU HEP Harmonization Strategy is on the following core areas:

1. Establishing and maintaining continental political commitment to the process of harmonization

2. Cooperating in information exchange

3. Developing and maintaining a continental framework for higher education qualifications

4. Creating minimum standards in targeted qualifications

5. Establishing joint curriculum development and student mobility schemes

B. Objectives of the on-line discussion The aim of this AU HEP Harmonisation Strategy moderated discussion list is to facilitate communication and sharing of information pertinent to harmonisation and quality of higher education programmes across Africa. This will sustain regular flow of information between stakeholders and the AU Commission during implementation of the Harmonisation strategy work plan. This discussion list will run from July to October 2007. We look forward to your constructive engagement in this process.

C. Confirmation and Registration for Participation:

You can unregister /register and or invite others to participate in this Discussion at:

http://www.aau.org/elists/listinfo/au-harmon-aau-qa