Tertiary Education Curricula Internationalisation in Southern Africa: Its Impact on Global Employment Opportunities

Abstract

While education systems in Africa share common backgrounds historically (educationally, socially, politically, economically and culturally), they are deep variations in the approaches and contexts resulting in many questions than answers.  The purpose of this study was to interrogate the current tertiary education curriculum, provide a rationale approach to curricula design that will produce international graduands, not local manpower.  With the speedy at which all aspects of life are being globalised, it is important that, the education sector in the continent takes the lead.  The study reviewed current literature, documents to obtain key data required to make informed conclusions.  The study revealed that there was no consistency in terms of policy formation among tertiary institutions in the SADC region, hence the need to harmonise efforts of international curriculum design.  This is despite efforts by individual countries with South Africa taking the lead.  The study therefore recommended for deeper involvement by SADC and tertiary institutions in creating a Secretariat, that is legislated and working as a hub for educational Development in Southern Africa in a bid to full fill the United Nations dream for Education for All and the Millennium Development Goals in the face of a globalised world.

Keywords: Internationalisation, curriculum, global employment