Academics wanted

The Third World is suffering a brain drain, says William Richardson

Retired academics from all over the world are being asked to help with a new scheme devised by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) to aid universities in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean with escalating problems of shortages of teaching staff.

Over the last few decades a brain drain has been hitting a number of countries in the developing world. Academics, who might have been expected to continue their studies in their country of birth, leave to work in wealthier, more developed nations. The Economic Commission for Africa says that Africa lost 60,000 professionals between 1985 and 1990 and has been losing an average of 20,000 annually ever since.

The scheme to tackle the problem, The Retired Academics Database, will contain the names of hundreds of academics who are willing to work in universities overseas for periods ranging from a few months to two years, on short-term contracts, while permanent staff can be found.

Piers Pennington, of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, says the large numbers of retired academics in the developed world who want to continue working in some form or other ties in with the demand from the developing world. The database is an obvious solution to the problems, especially with widespread internet access.

Universities in Commonwealth countries with shortages are able to use the website to fill in an application form detailing the staff required. The Association then examines its database of academics, and offers the university a list of candidates.

Although in its infancy, the database has attracted a great deal of interest. A preliminary website outlining the scheme elicited more than 100 e-mails from academics around the world offering their support. The assocation has now set up an online form for anyone interested. The project hopes to send its first candidates abroad by spring 2003. Before that the association will be promoting the scheme in universities.

For more information contact the Association for Commonwealth Universities on 020-7383 0368, or go to www.acu.ac.uk/adverts/rad