EDUCATIONAL ADVISORY SERVICES (OLC)

OVERSEAS LIAISON COMMITTEE (OLC) CONTRACTED TO PROVIDE LIAISON WITH AFRICAN UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY, LEND ITS SUPPORT TO STRENGTHENING OF INTER-UNIVERSITY TIES,AND BROADEN UNIVERSITY INVOLVEMENT WITH CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. OLC ACTIVITIES PROVIDE MEANS FOR AFRICA BUREAU TO RECEIVE ADVICE AND TEST IDEAS ON INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROFESSIONALS. PROP OF 9/25/73 INDICATES THAT AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES HAVE REDIRECTED AND STRENGTHENED PROGRAMS RELATED TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ARE NOW CONFRONTED WITH PROVIDING ASSISTNACE TO GOVERNMENTS WITH DEVELOPMENT PROBLEMS. PROJECT ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE CAPABILITIES OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO RESPOND QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY TO COMMUNITY NEEDS. OLC"S ROLE IS NOW TO PROMPT AND ASSIST UNIVERSITIES IN ASSUMING AN INCREASED ROLE AS CONTRIBUTORS TO NATIONAL AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT. OLC PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: (1) THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ON A REGIONAL BASIS; (2)INFORMATION COLLECTION AND EXCHANGE WITHIN THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY; (3)COMPARATIVE RESEARCH ON THE PROCESS OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT; (4) WORKING CLOSELY WITH NON-EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO INCREASE UTILIZATION OF UNIVERSITY RESOURCES, AND; (5) PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL SEMINIAR SERIES PROVIDING REPORTS ON NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT HISTORY AN CULTURE AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES. OLC WORKS WITH SEVERAL AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES. INCLUDED ARE: UNIVERSITY OF EAST AFRICA, UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA, LESOTHO, AND SWAZILAND; UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY,GHANA; CUTTINGTON COLLEGE, LIBERIA; AND THE UNIVERSITY OF DAKAR. ADDITIONALLY, OLC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF A RURAL DEVELOPMENT NETWORK COMPOSED OF 4 SUB-ACTIVITIES: (1) EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS; (2) SEMINARS, FIELD TRIPS AND WORKSHOPS; (3) ASSISTANCE IN PLANNING RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, AND; (4) RESEARCH INTO THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND INDENTIFICATION OF RESEARCH TOPICS.