University News from Africa

NIGERIA: Nearly 300,000 denied university places /Tunde Fatunde

More than a million N igerian youngsters wrote qualifying tests conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, hoping to clinch a university place. But universities can accept only 153,000 out of 448,000 successful candidates, meaning that 295,000 qualified would-be students will be denied admission to higher education when the 2008-09 academic year begins in October.Full report on the University World News site

ZIMBABWE: Students look east /Clemence Manyukwe

Zimbabwean students are turning to Asian universities following Australia’s decision to deport eight youngsters whose fathers are accused of propping up the government of President Robert Mugabe – and more students might yet be deported. The United States has also said five students involved in “anti-democratic” activities would be deported, but has not said when or given their names. Unlike in the past, local papers are now awash with advertisements offering students places at Asian universities, mostly in Malaysia.Full report on the University World News site

Student faces death for alleged coup plot /Clemence Manyukwe
A University of Zimbabwe student appeared in the Harare High Court last week on charges of plotting a coup against the government of long-time ruler President Robert Mugabe. Rangarirai Mazirofa, 21, a second year agriculture student, was arrested in May last year with six other men for allegedly plotting to assassinate the ageing despot with the help of the security forces. He has been tortured in prison. The men all face a death sentence.Full report on the University World News site

MOZAMBIQUE: New research institutions planned / Charles MangwiroMozambique is planning to increase the number of scientific institutions as part of a strategic bid to enable better use of trained staff and to fight grinding poverty currently affecting half of its 20 million people. The Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Heath have formalised a five-year memorandum of understanding aimed at promoting science and technology research. Full report on the University World News site

EGYPT: Research plagued by plagiarism / Ashraf Khaled

Mohamed Abdel Moneim, a lecturer in the faculty of commerce at the southern Egyptian University of Beni Sueif, was shocked when he came across a book carrying the name of a fellow lecturer – it had the same title as a book he had authored dealing with purchase and warehouse management. “That was not all. The alleged author had plagiarised a large chunk of my book,” Moneim recalls. His case was one of many instances of plagiarism that have been uncovered in recent years, and which experts say have come to plague research in Egypt.Full report on the University World News site