Higher Education in the Developing World: Drosophila Neurogenetics, Uganda Tom Baden & Lucia Prieto Godino

Education in Sub-Saharan Africa Higher Education Higher Education PRIVATE PUBLIC Poverty Reduction Economic Growth Sustained Income Growth Increased Spending Tax Revenue Productivity, Enterpreneurship, Specialisation, Jobs R&D, FDI, Governance, Safety, Social Development Sources: Bloom, Canning and Chang 2006, The World Bank #54441 Higher Education is essential for Development. Problem: Not enough university lecturers! Sub-Saharan Africa is way behind... % with tertiary education

What can we do? It is easy to be fatalistic about science in sub-Saharan Africa. Researchers there face so many systemic problems — poor facilities, lack of funding, corruption and government instability — that it seems impossible for any single willing scientist in the developed world to make a difference for their African counterparts.

Uganda Drosophila Neurogenetics, Uganda: „Introducing Neuroscience to African universities“

Uganda Source: UNICEF Enrollment - Primary: 82% - Secondary: 25% - Teritiary: 2%, doubling every 3 years - Population: 33 million - Languages: English, Luganda - GNI per capita: 460$ (Germany: 43000$) - 52% below poverty line of 1.25$/day ~ 60 universities and polytechnics

Kampala International University, Western Campus

Drosophila Neurogenetics Uganda, 2011 Students from 6 countries… Lots of support… Slater Fund

Drosophila Neurogenetics Uganda, 2011 The faculty......the students......and a fly... local organising committee

The lab…

Theoretical Sessions

Practical Sessions

TReND in Africa gUG (charitable NGO) 1)Organise Neuroscience courses at local universities 2)Establish permanent research facilities at local universities 3)Establish a stipendary program for young African Neuroscientists 4)Promote international collaboration T eaching and Re search in N euroscience for D evelopment......in Africa „Promoting Neuroscience Education and Research in sub-Saharan Africa“

Now what? Repeat the course with increased funding Launch 1st MA Course in Neuroscience at KIU (2nd in East Africa) Timeline Expand the framework to other disciplines & other countries Pilot completed Set-Up a permanent research facility at KIU with equipment donations Found TReND in Africa (charitable NGO)

The future…

Thanks to… Faculty Lucia Prieto-Godino Isa Palacios Lola Dolores Martin Bermudo Marta Vicente Local Organising Committee Sadiq Yusuf Ponchang Wuyep Peter Ekanem Kintu Mugaga Francis Ndagire Winnie and Pascal & many more Jim Haseloff, Jim Ajioka, Leon Lagnado, Berthold Hedwig, Simon Laughlin, Holger Krapp, Hugh Robinson, Glenn Harris, Thomas Euler, Mike Bate, Michael Akam, Stefan Pulver, Felix Evers, Paola Cognigni, Adelaine Leung, Jill Pen, Jean-Paul Vincent, Matt Williams Equipment donations & Support Slater Fund

Uganda

The equipment…