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Press ReleaseFrom the Department for International Development13 May 2004DFID to strengthen university LINKS between UK and developing countriesHilary Benn, International Development Secretary, today announced that DFID will introduce a redesigned Higher Education Links programme from April 2005 onwards, following a review of the programme. DFID will invest up to £3m a year in the new programme, which will finance new commitments over a seven year period until March 2012. The “Links” Programme promotes collaboration between universities in the UK and developing countries by enabling individual academics from the UK and overseas to develop collaborative research, professional development training, seminars, workshops and courses in the host country and the UK. It has been running since 1981 and during that period, over 3,200 university links in 48 countries have been funded by DFID. Hilary Benn said: “The Higher Education Links programme seeks to develop human capital and skills in the world’s poorest countries with the aim of reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development. The current programme has already helped to build considerable extra capacity in developing countries, for example, in Ethiopia, where measles remains a significant cause of child and infant mortality. The Link project between the National Measles Reference Laboratory in Ethiopia and the University of Warwick has promoted better techniques for measles control and the UK’s Central Public Health Laboratory has trained ten Ethiopian laboratory technicians in oral-fluid technology. The new Links programme that is due to begin in April next year will build on the strengths of the existing Links programme and tackle areas for improvement identified in the review report. It will have a stronger focus on sub-Saharan Africa, on support of the Millennium Development Goals, and on capacity building for science and technology.” NOTES TO EDITORS1. DFID has been supporting the Higher Education Links programme for over 20 years. Our current annual budget for the Scheme is £3m. and the average link costs DFID between £7,000 –12,000 per annum. Further details are available on the British Council’s website. 2. A review of the existing Links programme and possible options for higher education partnerships was undertaken by three consultants (Terry Allsop, Paul Bennell and David Forrester). Their report is available here, together with DFID’s response to Professor Robert Boucher, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield and Chair of the Higher Education Links Steering Committee. 3. In Uganda, an existing link between Makerere University and the University of Central England aims to enhance the role of women in the construction industry. The ultimate aim is to increase household incomes, distribute these more fairly within households and improve the quality of life for Ugandan families. Activities to date have focussed on the extent of existing participation, barriers to entry for women, and raising awareness on the significance of engendering the industry among professionals and academics. 4. DFID is the UK Government department responsible for promoting sustainable development and reducing poverty. The central focus of the Government’s policy is a commitment to the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals to be achieved by 2015. These seek to:
For further information please contact the DFID press office on 020 7023 0600 or e-mail pressoffice@dfid.gov.uk DFID Press Office
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