Globalisation and localisation of engineering education in Africa

Abstract

The problem of globalisation and localisation of engineering education in Africa is discussed in this paper. This is because, as compared to other continents, engineering education in Africa is still far behind in terms of quality and importance and is considered outdated and has no place in global engineering. To this impact, authors have argued that the globalization of African engineering education could be a possible solution to this anomaly facing the continent's engineering education. It is on this note that this research argues that it is important to globalize engineering education in Africa. This study further argues that while it is important to globalize engineering education, it is also relevant that it is localised alongside. To this end, this study believes that engineering education on the continent needs to undergo a 'localized globalization' for engineering education in Africa to take its correct place and role in global engineering. It is through this notion that this research is organized. Based on the analogy of this report, it is concluded that engineering education on the continent must be 'globalized locally' in order for engineering education in Africa to take its rightful place in world engineering. Therefore, this study recommends that local engineering values should be mixed together to achieve successful localized globalization while globalizing engineering education in Africa.</jats:p>