African Institutions Launch Student Credit Transfer System

University students in Africa can now transfer credits through the African Credit Transfer system (ACT) that was created to bring African institutions of higher learning closer and promote free movement of students across the continent.

Currently, higher education systems on the continent are too diverse to support student transfer from one region to another or from one institution to another, resulting in lack of recognition of university degrees.

This has constrained academic integration and mobility of students across the region.

The ACT framework developed by the African Union says a common credit transfer system that can be recognised and transferred at national, regional and continental levels is paramount in advancing the harmonisation of higher education systems in Africa.

The African Union sees ACT as one way of pushing integration.

ACT was launched recently in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, during the African Higher Education Quality Assurance and Accreditation Advisory board meeting and attended by over 400 higher education institutions, members of the Association of African Universities (AAU).

AAU Secretary-General Prof Olusola Oyewole, said the launch of an ACT system is a major step for African institutions of higher education adding that the vision of the AAU is to foster a higher education system that produces quality graduates to drive development in Africa.