HE & democracy

There is a presumed link between participation in higher education and levels of demoracy.

CHET has been exploring the complex relationships between higher education and democracy in several African countries in its HERANA project. The project focused on:

• the role of education in forming citizens’ attitudes to democracy in Africa;
• the ability of higher education in Africa to supply the human capital needed for running national parliaments/legislatures in selected countries; and
• the role of elite universities in selected African countries in developing democratic attitudes and behaviour among students and student leaders.

While some of the findings of the HERANA project were ambiguous, it was suggested that formal education in general, and higher education in particular, provides advantages in various measures of democratic citizenship and leadership.