Since their founding, African colleges and universities have faced numerous challenges. While most are legacies of colonialism, these institutions are affected by particular conditions and realities in their home countries. This book is the first comprehensive survey of all aspects and dimensions of higher education in Africa today. It includes a historical overview of higher educational resources in Africa; descriptions of the size, scope, and nature of higher education in each African nation; and analyses of current and timely topics, such as the state of private higher education in Africa, the financing and economics of higher education, gender issues, distance education, information and communication technologies, and university/state relations. The work concludes with an extensive bibliography of Ph.D. dissertations and other resources on the subject. Relevant for policymakers, development agencies, and university researchers, teachers, and administrators worldwide, African Higher Education is an important and basic reference.