(2014-2020) Supporting academic mobility in Africa.
From 2016-2020, the Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme supported student and staff mobility in Africa. The overall objective of the programme was to enhance human capital development in Africa, while strengthening intra-African cooperation in higher education as called for by the Agenda 2063.
The programme's specific objectives were to:
•    increase the employability of students,
•    improve the quality of higher education in Africa and its relevance to Africa's development vision,
•    strengthen the modernisation and internationalisation of African higher education institutions,
•    promote the development of an African higher education and research space.

Mobility of students and staff between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) aimed to help them acquire stronger knowledge and skills and contribute to improving the quality and relevance of teaching and learning through exchanges of practices.
The scheme also aimed to contribute to strengthening the modernisation and internationalisation strategies of HEIs through the establishment of mechanisms to manage mobility flows. This sought in turn to increase HEIs’ capacity to forge partnerships with other institutions and undertake joint collaboration and research.
Furthermore, the programme aimed to bring together HEIs from different regions, requiring the setting up of adequate mechanisms to organise the exchanges, such as arrangements to compare curricula and recognise study periods abroad. The programme therefore aimed to enhance harmonisation and standardisation of higher education in line with the African Union Strategy for Harmonisation of Higher Education.
The Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme was set up under the Pan-African Programme (Development Cooperation Instrument) and was based on the experience of the Intra-ACP Academic Mobility Scheme.
The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) was responsible for managing the programme, in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and under the supervision of the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (INTPA) of the European Commission.

Achieving sustainable development, and inclusive growth within Africa would largely be undermined if its water resources are not sustainably managed, utilised, protected and governed. The continent is facing multiple water-related challenges, including declining water quantity and quality, inadequate governance and institutional structures, declining monitoring networks, increasing resource use in the face of a growing human population, and increasing resource variability associated with future changing climates. As the region strives toward improving political, economic and social stability, the importance of secure water supplies will assume increasing significance. If this is neglected, a potential for conflict exists: 1) within and between communities -through a lack of water- and sanitation-related access and services, and 2) between countries- through a lack of agreement on transboundary sharing of water resources and most importantly, 3) between societal constituencies through perceived non-inclusive and equitable sharing of water resources (distributive justice).

The African Water Resource Mobility Network (AWARMN), which is a project of the Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme, is a set up to address the water-related pressing needs on the African continent. The main objective of addressing these pressing needs are achieved through:

1) a transdisciplinary, socially-engaged training embedded in existing programmes within partner institutions, ensuring increases in the numbers of highly qualified and competent (MSc and PhD) graduates in the field of water resources in Africa; 

2) develop and harmonise programmes and curricula, with a particular emphasis on disciplinary excellence and transdisciplinary capability; 

3) build and sustain teaching and research capabilities among partner institutions; 

4) design and implement research programmes based on collaboration and cooperation during, and beyond, the AWARMN funding; 

5) facilitate student and staff mobility to promote multiculturalism and internationalisation among African institutions of higher learning; 

6) contribute to innovation and water technologies that advance social-economic development of Africa and; 

7) address the professional career development and employability of graduates by creating a direct interface between AWARMN and industry partners.

AWARMN is funded by the Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme of the European Union (https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/intra-africa_en) 

Important message to international students/potential applicants: Please be cautious when receiving any publicity inviting you to apply for an Intra-Africa scholarship or a message to pay a fee to be selected as a scholarship holder. We have been informed of numerous attempted scams. Before giving out any personal data, please always verify that the information comes from a trustworthy source. Please also note that the African Water Resources Mobility Network (AWaRMN) will never solicit payment from candidates in order to benefit from its scholarship. Our scholarships are fully funded by the Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme of the European Union. If you are in doubt regarding the authenticity of any scholarship offer, contact the AWaRMN secretariat at awarmnadmin@ru.ac.za.

Last Modified: Mon, 28 Mar 2022 11:11:37 SAST