Political Capital as the Hallmark of Engineering Education in Africa
Kehdinga George Fomunyam
Dr. Kehdinga George Fomunyam, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban, South Africa.
Manuscript received on September 19, 2020. | Revised Manuscript received on September 27, 2020. | Manuscript published on October 10, 2020. | PP: 82-88 | Volume-9 Issue-12, October 2020 | Retrieval Number: 100.1/ijitee.L78721091220 | DOI: 10.35940/ijitee.L7872.1091220
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: When a political actor or a government delivers on its promises, whether on provision of infrastructure or favourable policies, it automatically earns political capital as a reward and as a bargaining chip for future purposes. This study explores the intricacies of political capital and its impacton engineering education in Africa. It examines political leverage as a key indicator of a functioning education system and the effect of engineering education on politics in turn. Political capital enables political players use their connections to secure compliance especially in terms of advocating for and pushing forward policies that ensure growth in engineering education, which is an essential part of overhauling and restructuring the African economy. The study also suggests yet-to-be-explored routes that could further advance engineering education in Africa.
Keywords: Political Capital, Politics, Engineering, Education.
Scope of the Article: Smart Learning and Innovative Education Systems