Analysis & Opinions - The Guardian

Southern Sudan Has Many Lessons to Learn from Juba University

| July 5, 2011

PovertyMatters Blog

As it prepares for independence, south Sudan should look to the university to help lay down the foundations of a new state

"On 9 July south Sudan will emerge as Africa's youngest state. Considerable effort is going into searching for how the country can ramp up its human capacity for economic transformation. Juba University might just provide an answer.

Critics of the role of universities in economic transformation argue that higher education takes too long to show results and that its focus is usually too academic. However, the evidence suggests that practically oriented universities offer the fastest and most durable ways to incubate new states. With the right vision, universities can confer their attributes to a new state.

A good example of this is the creation of Israel. For more than two decades before the state was created, Technion (Israel Institute of Technology) helped to lay the foundations of the modern state of Israel. The identity of the country as a player in the field of science and technology can be traced to the vision of Technion...."

Continue reading: http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/jul/05/juba-university-lessons-for-southern-sudan?CMP=twt_gu

Want to Read More?

The full text of this publication is available via the original publication source.
Read Full Article
For more information on this publication: Belfer Communications Office
For Academic Citation: Juma, Calestous.“Southern Sudan Has Many Lessons to Learn from Juba University.” The Guardian, July 5, 2011.

The Author

Calestous Juma

Calestous Juma

  • Former Professor of the Practice of International Development; Director, Science, Technology, and Globalization Project; Principal Investigator, Agricultural Innovation in Africa
  • Former Member of the Board, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Expertise:
Recommended
In the Spotlight
RSS
In a podcast interview, environmental economist Nat Keohane said he is optimistic that the COP28 climate conference will result in a commitment to triple renewable energy globally by 2030, slash methane emissions, and more.
In a National Academy of Sciences special feature, William Clark and his co-editors examine how to stimulate and accelerate the structural changes needed in how natural and social resources are mobilized to promote sustainability.
The last time Israel faced a challenge like this was in 1973, writes Amos Yadlin. While at first the Yom Kippur War seemed like a defeat for Israel, in the end Israel came out on top and its victory led to a groundbreaking peace agreement with Egypt.
Most Viewed

Tags