We live in an era of worldwide interdependence. Academicians have looked at cooperation between institutions as an essential undertaking if new ideas are to be shared, especially between older and newer universities in developed and developing countries respectively. Between 1960 and today, a number of American and Nigerian universities have developed linkages between them. The purpose of this study was to review the relationships between American and Nigerian universities to determine what the objectives of these relationships were, to assess if such links contributed to the academic development of the institutions concerned, and to recommend future policy on inter-university relationships.
Research was conducted at some Nigerian and American universities involved in linkage activities. Information on linkages was obtained from library resources, use of questionnaires, and from personal interviews with administrators and faculty members of universities in both countries; 30 university officials participated in the study. In addition, one official of the Overseas Liaison Committee of the American Council on Education and three members of the National Universities Commission of Nigeria were interviewed. With the exception of three participants whom I interviewed extensively, all interviews were approximately 45 minutes in length.
The study revealed a number of problems encountered in the process of formulating, implementing and servicing inter-university linkages. Such problems involved funding, communication between institutions, access to appropriate and interested universities in the United States for Nigerian institutions, and differences in educational philosophy. However, the advantages of linkages outweighed the problems. Inter-university linkages between American and Nigerian institutions were found to provide: a convenient means for access to new opportunities for students and staff exchange; access to students for graduate training; acquisition of new professional ideas; opportunities for joint research; and demonstration of varied management methods.
Policy recommendations for future inter-university relationships were presented. The enthusiastic response of participants in this study is one indication that hopes unknown or unrealized in the past are very active in the minds of people who seek to improve the well-being of mankind through inter-unversity relationships.
