Emerging Regional Developments and Forecast for Quality in Higher Education in Africa

One of the major conclusions of the 2014 World Economic Forum held from January 22 to 25 in Davos, Switzerland is the need for leaders of the world to address inequities in the socio-economic configuration of national, regional and global communities especially through education and partnerships. As Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organization noted at the Forum, "well-designed education and training systems are needed that respond to labour market needs, and equip a young workforce for the jobs of tomorrow." Within the inclusive growth sub-theme of the WEF, higher education is seen as a potent pathway for enriching human capital through knowledge development. The eight heads of African governments that were in Davos embraced a commitment to bolster higher education especially its quality dimension, a commitment which will echo at the Africa Economic Forum to be held in May 2014 in Abuja, Nigeria.