AVU/RMIT news

RMIT celebrates success in Africa

RMIT celebrates success in Africa RMIT University will congratulate its first group of graduates from the successful African Virtual University (AVU) project in sub-Saharan Africa.

RMIT's Pro Vice-Chancellor (International, Enterprise and Community Development), Dr Madeleine Reeve, will present diplomas to students at two of its four ceremonies in Africa next month.

The first graduation will occur at RMIT's lead partner university, the University of Dar es Salaam, in Tanzania, on 2 March. This will be followed by graduations in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 5 March, Kigali, Rwanda on 11 March, and Cape Coast, Ghana on 19 March.

The AVU project is highly regarded in RMIT's partner countries. The President of Rwanda, local Ministers for Education and Australian consular officials will be attending the graduations.

RMIT is working with nine institutions in six countries around the world to deliver the computer science awards. Earlier this year, the University of Namibia in Windhoek joined the program and is offering RMIT's Diploma of Computer Science.

The World Bank-funded AVU project is aimed at redressing the scarcity of higher education available to African students. Less than five per cent of African students have access to tertiary education.

"The AVU project has been very successful," Dr Reeve said. "The pass rate for the diploma course stands at 80 per cent which, compared with industry standards, is above the average.

"By 2007, almost 500 students in the program will have successfully completed the requirements for an RMIT award. This first cohort of graduates is a tribute to both the hard work and dedication of staff at RMIT and in the partner universities. Read more...

RMIT University in Africa

Just over two years ago, RMIT University's Pro Vice-Chancellor (International, Enterprise and Community Development), Dr Madeleine Reeve, attended the launch of the African Virtual University project in Nairobi, Kenya by the Kenyan Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon Maj (Rtd) Marsden Madoka.

In 2005, up to 400 offers were made to students to join the AVU. This has remained consistent across three years of the program, with almost 700 students studying at both undergraduate and TAFE level in 2004. The enrolment growth has been exponential over the three years with almost 300 per cent growth since its first intake in 2003. After 2006, RMIT's lead partner, the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), in Tanzania, will deliver the programs. RMIT International and RMIT's School of Computer Science and Information Technology are helping to train staff at UDSM to look after all aspects of running the program. This capacity building is a core component of the handover process so that UDSM can assume full responsibility in 2007.

RMIT will stage a graduation ceremony at the start of each year for graduates of the AVU program. This ceremony will be held until the final graduation in March 2007 when the first cohort of RMIT students will be conferred with the Bachelor of Applied Science in Computer Science.

The achievements of the AVU project for RMIT has led to numerous other projects both within Africa and other parts of the world, including a United Nations Development Program-funded project assessing the needs of higher education institutes in Zanzibar, Tanzania, to develop Information Communication Technology (ICT) programs. These projects reaffirm RMIT's position as an international leader in the delivery of distance education, ICT and project management.

About the AVU

Started in 1997, the AVU (www.avu.org) is a World Bank initiative that seeks to redress the scarcity of tertiary education available for African students. Across Africa, less than five per cent of students have access to tertiary education. The charter of the AVU commits it to bringing the best educational resources of the world to African students in Africa through the use of technology.

In 1997, the ICT infrastructure in Africa was still in its infancy, and the technology selected for the initial phase of short course delivery from a range of top universities was satellite broadcasting. This pilot was successful and by 2001, AVU had set up learning centres in 34 universities across sub Saharan Africa, with its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. RMIT's Computer Science program is the first award program.

The programs are being delivered through the network of AVU learning centres in Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Namibia and Rwanda. Delivery is conducted via a mixed mode of in-situ learning and distance education utilising online, videos, CD roms and print materials. RMIT provides course content, teaching staff in Australia, online mentoring, Quality Assurance, capacity-building of local institutions and their staff, and project management.
Further information can be obtained from: www.international.rmit.edu.au/avu

About RMIT University

Formed in 1887, RMIT University (www.rmit.edu.au) has grown to become one of the largest universities in the country and has built a worldwide reputation for excellence in vocational and technical education and research.

RMIT offers more than 800 vocational and technical and higher educational programs across a broad range of fields. Many specialist programs are regarded as among the best of their kind in Australia. Traditional strengths such as engineering, business and IT sit beside popular contemporary fields including life sciences, communications and fashion.

RMIT has 56,000 students who study at various campuses in Melbourne and regional Victoria, at two campuses in Vietnam, online, by distance education, and at partner institutions throughout the world. A vibrant graduate network now stretches across 127 countries.

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