One of the biggest research projects that the Graduate School is involved with is the consortium Edqual, concerned with Implementing Education Quality in Low Income Countries. At £2.5 million, funded by the Department for International Development, it is the largest grant ever made to the School.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a key to rebuilding education in Rwanda and the Graduate School is working closely with academics there as well as in Tanzania, Ghana and South Africa.
While ICT is a priority in Rwanda, language and literacy are at the fore in Tanzania, leadership in Ghana and raising the quality of Maths and Science Education in South Africa. EdQual work covers a wide variety of topics and it influences, informs and connects to other work throughout the Graduate School and the University of Bristol.
Explaining the basis of the consortium, Edqual Director Professor Leon Tikly says, “We are working across the four corners of Africa, talking with policy-makers in their countries about what they consider to be the burning issues. What’s unique about EdQual is that we want to make it African owned.”
The programme is carefully structured so that the African partners drive the projects. They identify the priorities and shape the methodologies. They are supported by colleagues from the Universities of Bristol and Bath. The programme also encourages South-South learning and researchers from Pakistan and Chile share expertise with African partners.
"Much of the work is action research-led and practitioners are at the centre of each activity at a local level. We believe passionately in that," Leon continues. “Whilst Ministers have a role in shaping policy, real change comes about when initiatives are owned at the grass roots level.
“There is no shortage of motivation. It has brought in Bristol staff at all levels, and they have applied their skills to new, challenging contexts. And in Africa it is developing capability where it is most needed, with local academics and leaders. Researchers visit each other’s countries and eleven PhD studentships are in place."
Edqual ran with great success over a period of several years from 2006 to 2010 and the six academic institutions involved with its work continue to be contact.
