Blogs by Mtinkheni Gondwe
Getting insight into training needs in the South: Comparing NFP TMT and Short Course Programmes
What does an analysis of TMT programme themes, in relation to NFP short course themes, tell us about the actual training needs in partner countries in the South?
Tailor-made Training: Huge returns on investment
In our previous blog last Wednesday, we unpacked the key characteristics of the Tailor-made training modality. In the present blog we discuss cost effectiveness of the programme and how Nuffic is balancing this against the rising interest in the programme.
Tailor-made Training: A very effective capacity building instrument
Nuffic’s Tailor-made Training (TMT) programme is fast, flexible, responsive, relevant, demand-driven and target-oriented. In this blog, we unpack these adjectives of acclamation to illustrate just what it is that distinguishes this modality of capacity building.
The scramble for international alumni: Towards balanced benefits
Should students from developing countries, who are studying in developed countries, return home upon graduation to contribute to the development of their own economies? Or is it okay for their developed host countries to actively poach and retain them for the good of their own labour markets?
Rebranding gender: Healing the fatigue
Rebranding ‘gender mainstreaming’ may be just what we need to move beyond the current fatigue that seems to have gripped the development field whenever the term is mentioned.
Gender in Dutch international capacity development programmes: scholarships
This is Part 1 of a two-part blog summarising the lessons that Nuffic has learned with regard to mainstreaming gender in three key programmes of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Part 1 focuses on the scholarship-based programme NFP while Part 2 focuses on the project-based programmes NPT and NICHE.
Gender in Dutch international capacity development programmes: projects
This is Part 2 of a two-part blog summarising the lessons that Nuffic has learned with regard to mainstreaming gender in three key programmes of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Part 1 focuses on the scholarship-based programme NFP while the current blog focuses on the project-based programmes NPT and NICHE.
Capacity building of developing countries good for international business
Development cooperation, particularly through educational capacity building, contributes to growth of the middle class in developing regions, which, in turn, contributes to the sustainability of international business.
Gender in the Dutch international cooperation strategy
The more than 20 private sector development cooperation programmes that have recently been established in the Netherlands barely include a gender equality focus. Yet, at the national level, the government has articulated its intention to pursue women economic empowerment in its foreign policy. Can this gap between intention and action be closed? And how?
Tackling low secondary school completion rates in Mozambique
The capacity building activities in developing countries managed by Nuffic focus on higher education in relation to the local labour market. Nevertheless, there is also recognition of the problems faced at lower education levels since these also impact on the magnitude of the capacity building needs of the labour market.
Achieving sustainable self-reliance without educational capacity building an illusion
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MinBuZa) and Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation (MinEL&I) recently announced more than 20 financial instruments to facilitate increased international cooperation between the Dutch private sector and the private sector in 60 selected developing countries all over the world.
Towards new partnerships and funding sources for development cooperation in HE
The persistent financial crisis that has rung in with the new millennium has had a significant impact on the field of development cooperation, particularly with regard to budget.
Debating the value of NQFs in developing countries
The rife use of old boy networks in job placement does not and should not make continued implementation of National Qualification Frameworks redundant.
Effective Capacity Building for Sub-Saharan Africa: Targeting the Youth Bulge
Maximum effect in capacity building in Sub-Saharan Africa can be achieved by targeting skills development at the youth bulge, with conscious effort on involving girls.
Emerging higher education hubs
Upcoming providers of international higher education in the developing world.
Education development in Africa: the first 50 years of independence
Forty-six of Africa’s 52 countries achieved independence from colonial rule between 1960 and 1966. It is 2010, exactly 50 years after the first ululations (uhmmm ... declarations) of independence were proclaimed. Time to celebrate!