1. AFRICA CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE PROJECT 10th PSC MEETING & 7TH ACE WORKSHOP INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL - LAGOS
UPDATE, ACE PROJECT – THE GAMBIA CHAPTER 2ND COMPONENT – PROCUREMENT OF SERVICES FROM THE ACES
MAY, 2017

2. OUTLINE 1. INTRODUCTION – ACE & NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE GAMBIA
2. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS – ENROLMENT
3. MONITORING AND EVALUATION - FINDINGS

3. ACE & NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE GAMBIA
The Education Sector – Executing Agency of the ACE Project to create
“… a well-educated, trained, skilled… self-reliant and enterprising population …” (Vision 2020, the Gambia Incorporated)
Challenges:
Delivery of STEM lessons; absence of pre-vocational programmes in the schools – lead to weak foundation base for the human capital
Absence of higher certified programmes in areas of STEM, Heath and Agriculture in the country’s post-secondary institutions. Low agricultural productivity - inadequate technically- skilled workers and appropriate technology
The absence of specialists in policy analysis; e-governance, STEM content and pedagogical knowledge and skills

4. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS – ENROLMENT
135 students have been enrolled in the ACEs
4 currently dropped – 131 currently enrolled
GENDER
NO. %
FEMALE 29
22.1%
MALE
102
77.9%

5. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS – ENROLMENT – AGRICULTURE
CENTRE
PROGRAMME
FEMALE
MALE
MSC
PHD
BENUE STATE UNIVERSITY, NIGERIA
AGRICULTURE EXTENSION 2 - 1
FOOD SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY 3
ABEOKUTA UNIVERSITY, NIGERIA
CROP PROTECTION
BAYERO UNIVERSITY, NIGERIA
CROP AND CROPPING SYSTEMS
LIVESTOCK
UNIVERSITE de LOME, TOGO
POULTRY SCIENCE
UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, WACCI (AGRIC)
SEED SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY
TOTAL (22) 4 - 14

6. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS – ENROLMENT – HEALTH
CENTRE
PROGRAMME
FEMALE
MALE
MSC
PHD
UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, NEGERIA
REPRODUCTIVE AND FAMILY HEALTH 1 - 3
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 5 2
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH NURSING
UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, WACCBIP (HEALTH)
MOLECULAR CELL BIOLOGY
TOTAL (17) 7 2 5 3

7. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS – ENROLMENT – STEM
CENTRE
PROGRAMME
FEMALE
MALE
MSC
PHD
UNIVERSITE GASTON BERGER, SENEGAL
COMPUTER SCIENCE 3 - 14 5
MATHEMATICS 1 2
STATISTICS 7 13 4
UNIVERSITE YAOUNDE 1, CAMEROUN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, NIGERIA
BIOTECHNOLOGY - LAB STUDIES
KWAME NKRUMAH, GHANA
WATER RESOURCE ENGINEERING AND MGT
WATER SUPPLY AND ENV. SANITATION
TOTAL (92) 14 2 64 12

8. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS – TOTAL ENROLMENT
CENTRE
PROGRAMME
FEMALE
MALE
MSC
PHD
TOTAL (131) 25 4 83 19

9. MONITORING AND EVALUATION – FINDINGS
A follow up on the last monitoring visit resulted in the following Centres being visited:
Yaounde 1 Cameroon;
KNUST, Ghana (not visited in the previous M & E);
Benin University, Nigeria; and
University of Benue, Nigeria.

10. MONITORING AND EVALUATION - FINDINGS
General improvement in all the three Centres previously visited, especially on concerns related to academic matters.
Students’ performance is still a challenge in 1 centre. However, all Centres improved in their academic service delivery one of which manifested an impressive service delivery .
The Centres are committed to work with Gambia even after the students graduate – e.g. setting up a CAD centre, supporting the country set up an Engineering Faculty.
Centres have not been sending progress Reports/Results to the NRC. However, all 3 Centers gave comprehensive report of the students’ progress. The 4th Centre will be consulted during the workshop for their feedback on the matter.

11. MONITORING AND EVALUATION - FINDINGS
The issue of residential permit still remains a challenge in 1 Centre
Access to Internet facilities is still a challenge in two of the 4 centres. The other two doing very well; one going the extra mile to give free data for both internet and telephone calls.
Student Accommodation is yet to be resolved in 1 of the four centres; the highest Authority in the University pledged to resolve this in about a week
Funding for Publications – Ph. D students wrote to Banjul for publication but Centre assured the team that such publications will be funded at their level. Yet to receive feedback on the other Center.

12. MONITORING AND EVALUATION - FINDINGS
Students were advised to work closely with the Centres on all matters, ranging from medical issues to access to library and publication opportunities.

13. THANK YOU