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Senior Business Reporter
THE Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) says it will soon set up a virtual university that will work with other universities in the region to enhance research related to regional integration.Comesa said in a statement it would incorporate an  academy of science, technology and innovation as well as research networks.

“The stage is set for the establishment of a Comesa Virtual University that will work with a network of universities in a collaborative initiative aimed at enhancing the generation and dissemination of research related to regional integration,” it said.

The regional trading body said the decision was made at the just ended 34th council of ministers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

It said the council directed the operationalisation of the plan for the establishment of the virtual university that will progressively transform into a permanent autonomous university to be launched in October 2015.

The move to establish the Comesa University of Regional Integration will actualise an earlier decision of the council made in 2010 that proposed the setting up of a professional or graduate school of regional integration.

The council of ministers noted that no institution on the continent had graduated students with a degree in regional integration.

“Regional integration is a complex process and to navigate this important process requires expertise for: policy formulation and analysis, managing the process, negotiating treaties, protocols and other regulations/policies, understanding the process, participation in the process — to exploit opportunities and training/teaching about the process,” said Comesa.

It said at regional level, a lack of appreciation of regional  interests was reflected during negotiations whereby negotiators tended to take a national rather than a regional approach to regional integration.

At the national level, there was apparent need for capacity building for the coordinating units in member states to enhance their effectiveness in fulfilling their mandate in facilitating and implementing regional integration programmes.

The council adopted the implementation plan of the Comesa Virtual University that will culminate with the formal launch and the inaugural guest lecture and launch of a Masters’ Programme in October 2015.

The plan will include the recruitment of a management team, the signing of Memoranda of Understanding and Host Agreements with partner universities and the main hub, the establishment of a mentorship and fellowship scheme, design and establishment of online e-learning knowledge and training platform, establishment of resource centre and library and Research Network and finalisation of curricula design and development.