Browsing by Author "Nji, Ajaga"

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    Roadblocks In University Governance as Impediment to Educational Innovativeness: A Case Study of the Distance Education Programme at the University of Dschang, Cameroon
    (2008-09) Nji, Ajaga
    PCF5 Sub-theme: Governance and social justice // The distance education project at the University of Dschang was conceived in 1988 to establish a diploma in Tropical Agriculture by distance learning.. It started in 1991 through a bilateral partnership between the University of Dschang, and the University of Guelph, Canada. Funding was provided by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for an initial period of five years that later extended to seven years as a result of social, economic and political changes in Cameroon. Project implementation achieved a number of favourable outcomes (national acceptance of distance education to increase access and improve the quality of education), outputs (e.g., the effective establishment of a diploma programme in agriculture by distance), and impacts ( flexibility in learning and improvements in the quality of agricultural training at the University of Dschang). But implementation encountered a number of institutional governance problems including policy vacuum, stone-walling, blackmail, oppressive gate-keeping, and back-stabbing. The experience shows that strong leadership qualities, dialogue, accountability, consensus building, trust and the support and confidence of donors and partners contribute to overcome governance barriers in bilateral development projects. // Paper ID 739
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    The Distance Education Project at the University of Dschang, Cameroon: Challenges And Opportunities
    (1999-03) Nji, Ajaga
    PCF1 // The Distance Education project at the University of Dschang was started in l991 against a backdrop of restricted access to higher education in agriculture in Cameroon. The University of Dschang is the only institution of higher learning offering tertiary agricultural education at or above the Bachelor’s level. // The Agricultural Programme at the University of Dschang is for five years. It is open to holders of the GCE Advanced level and Baccalaureate in the sciences (12-14 years of formal elementary and secondary school education). Admission was, and still is by an entrance examination. // This situation limits access to agricultural education and creates a scarcity of trained human resources in the agricultural sector. At the time the project was designed, students paid no fees. On the contrary, government largesse paid students substantial stipends for their keep. Students also benefited from several privileges (e.g. free transit bus services between the campuses, heavily subsidized meals and single room student housing). These privileges were enjoyed by students attending the so-called Grandes Ecoles (Professional Schools) in Cameroon. // Funds for the project came from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the government of Cameroon. The University of Guelph collaborated jointly with the University of Dschang in implementing the project. //