The quality of higher education on the continent will be enhanced if African countries strengthen partnerships that allow them to share the resources, visiting Senegalese minister for higher education and research, Mary Teuv Niane has said.

Prof. Niane, who was in the country for the sub-Sahara Africa regional ministerial conference on education, said this on Wednesday, after touring University of Rwanda’s College of Science and Technology.

He said three education ministers from Senegal, Rwanda and Ethiopia compose the pilot committee to strengthen partnerships by establishing an African autonomous body that will boost applied science, technology and engineering to ensure African students can ably compete internationally.

"This visit is one of the experiences from which we will start the body that can promote research centres of excellence that will be shared by regional countries,” Prof. Niane said.

He said appropriate equipment is one of the prerequisites to ensure quality in higher education and according to him, the partnership framework will ensure that the equipment benefits students from across the sub-Saharan region.

The minister said Rwanda is an ambitious country with strong vision.

Dr Leopold Mbereyaho, the dean of School of Engineering at the college, said the tour was resourceful, adding that they shared experience with their Senegalese counterparts.

"Senegal has excellent research centres and labs, they have progressed in mathematics and sciences so it is better to have strong relationship and be a member of the anticipated independent body to ensure quality assurance in sub-Saharan region.Through this partnership, we can even use e-Labs to strengthen our research,” Mbereyaho said.

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