ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES (AAU)

ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION IN AFRICA (ADEA)

WORKING GROUP ON HIGHER EDUCATION (WGHE) 

CALL FOR WEBINAR PRESENTERS

The Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)’s Working Group on Higher Education (WGHE) which is hosted by the Association of African Universities (AAU) is calling for experts in Higher Education in Africa and beyond for the 2017 AAU-ADEA-WGHE Webinar Series.

ABOUT WEBINARS

Webinars are ‘web-based seminars’ or online platforms for holding seminars, meetings and fora for groups of participants. Unlike traditional workshops where participants need to travel and converge at a point for face to face engagement, webinars give the opportunity for members to stay in the comfort of their locations and still participate through the use of internet.

The AAU/ADEA-WGHE uses the Adobe Connect Platform to connect to its participants and experts on the continent and beyond for the webinars.  Participants can not only contribute to the discussions on the Platform but also through social media (e.g. Facebook and Twitter) following the hashtag #WGHETalks.

RATIONALE FOR AAU-ADEA-WGHE-WEBINARS:

The purpose of these webinars is to address pertinent issues pertaining to higher education in Africa through advocacy, research dissemination and sharing of information on successful implementation of policies. The Webinar presentations are geared towards achieving the major interventions and aspirations enshrined in the international and continental agendas such as the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Agenda, Africa’s Agenda 2063, the Continental

Education Strategy for Africa 2016-2025 (CESA 16-25), the Science and Technology Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2024), the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Strategy for Africa and  the 2015 Dakar Declaration and other policy documents relevant to higher education on the continent.

WEBINAR TARGET AUDIENCE:

The webinar brings together international experts in higher education and from the African university community, members of faculty, students, development partners, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the African Union, various Governments in Africa, Ministries of Education, educational policy makers, social and corporate organizations, private sector and everyone interested in African higher education to deliberate on key issues pertaining to improving higher education on the continent.

OBJECTIVES OF THE WEBINARS

1. To bring together experts, students, education providers, industry and other stakeholders to a common platform to deliberate on topical issues that are relevant to improving higher education on the African continent.
2. Stimulate lively and academic discussion among staff and students in African universities on issues related to higher education.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

Webinar presenters:

1. Must have an in-depth knowledge and experience on the selected theme.
2. Must have conducted a research work on the selected theme.
3. Must be a renowned industry leader or senior academic in any higher education institution in Africa or elsewhere with a track record of quality research publications and teaching. 

WEBINAR PRESENTATION FOCAL POINTS FOR 2017

The 2017 Webinar Series will focus on research, advocacy and implementation on:

• 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (Category A);
• TVET Strategy: Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Strategy for

Africa (Category B);

• Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want (Category C).

Presenters are to submit their concept notes on topics under any of the following categories.

Category A: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Presenters under this category are expected to make a presentation on a theme related to any of the 10 Goals listed below. Presentations must focus on case studies in Africa showing the state of implementation by countries in achieving the goals, the gaps therein/ challenges and the way forward or recommendation for practice. Presenters have the liberty to coin their presentation topics based on the Goals selected and related research works.

Goal 1: No poverty:  End poverty in all of its form every where

Topic: Poverty Eradication

Goal 2: Zero hunger: end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

Topic: Food Security and Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture

Goal 3: Good health and well-being: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. 

Topic: Health and Population

Goal 4: Good education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Topic: Inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Goal 5: Gender Equality: achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

Topic: Gender Equality and women empowerment. 

Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Topic: Water and Sanitation

Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth full and productive employment and decent work for all.

Topic: Employment, Decent work for all, social protection and reduced inequalities.

Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities: Make cities and human settlement safe, inclusive, reliable and sustainable.

Topic: Sustainable cities, rural development and human settlements.

Goal 13: Climate action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impact

Topic: Climate change 

Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institution: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. 

CATEGORY B: TVET STRATEGY

Presenters under this category are expected to make a presentation on any of the under listed areas. Presenters are expected to present case studies of implementation, challenges / gaps and the way forward for practice on selected theme. Presenters have the liberty to coin their presentation topics based on the Goals selected and related research works on the state of TVET in Africa:

1. Altering the poor perception and gender stereotyping of TVET.
2. Linkage between TVET and general education C. Linkage between formal and non-formal TVET.
3. Linkage of TVET to the labour market.
4. Harmonization of TVET programmes and qualification frameworks.
5. Funding mechanisms for TVET Education.

Category C: Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want

Presenters under this category are expected to make a presentation on a topic related to any of the 4 Aspirations enshrined in the Agenda 2063 of the African Union Commission listed below:

Presentations must focus on relevant case studies in Africa showing the state of implementation by member countries in achieving the aspirations, the gaps therein/ challenges and the way forward/ recommendation for practice. Presenters have the liberty to coin their presentation topics based on the selected Aspiration and related research works. Below are the Aspirations:

ASPIRATION 2. An Integrated Continent, Politically United Based on the Ideals of Pan Africanism and the Vision of Africa’s Renaissance

ASPIRATION 3. An Africa of Good Governance, Democracy, Respect for Human Rights, Justice and the Rule of Law

ASPIRATION 5: An Africa with a Strong Cultural Identity, Common Heritage, Values and Ethics

ASPIRATION 7: Africa as a Strong, United and Influential Global Player and Partner 

GUIDELINES FOR WEBINAR PRESENTERS

1. Webinar presenters must indicate the category for their presentation- A, B or C
2. Webinar presenters must submit a concept paper, a current portrait, a personal profile and a power point (APA format) on their preferred topic to the WGHE at least 2 months prior to the presentation.
3. Submitted concept note shall be peer reviewed and approved for presentation by experts.
4. Webinar presentations shall be scheduled in consultation with presenters after peer review.
5. Webinar presenters should increase the publicity of the WGHE on their presentation by informing their constituencies (students, education ministries, policy makers, members of faculty etc.) of their presentation where applicable.
6. Webinar Presenters will have 45minutes for presentation and 30minutes for questions and answers session.

 

FORMAT FOR CONCEPT NOTE:

Webinar concept notes should clearly show the following themes:

1. Introduction which captures the statement of the problem
2. The objectives of the presentation
3. The expected outcomes of the presentation
4. The content of the presentation including case studies related to the selected thematic area – what is innovative about the study and it contributes to addressing implementation issues, modalities for scaling up and/or replication.
5. Concluding remarks/recommendations.

 

HOW TO APPLY:

1. Interested presenters must indicate their selected category and related topic
2. Selected topics should be sent electronically to AAU/ADEA-WGHE addressed to kasam@aau.org with a copy to jcmba@aau.org and ndlamini@aau.org
3. For further enquiries, please call the following numbers for assistance: +233-302774495/ 715588, +233-243298464 or email us at kasam@aau.org and/or ndlamini@aau.org

 

SUBMISSION DEADLINE:

Interested presenters should submit their concept papers latest by Tuesday, 31st January 2017. Thereafter, the webinar presentation schedule will be shared.

About ADEA:

The Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) is a forum for policy dialogue, composed of all the 54 Ministers of Education in Africa. Established in 1988 at the instigation of the World Bank, it has evolved into a pan-African institution based within the African Development Bank Group (AfDB). Since its inception, it has acted on processes that have had a profound impact on policy-making in Africa through evidence-based policy dialogue, capacity building, advocacy and networking. ADEA’s work has expanded to focus more on the development of skills and competencies across all the education sub-sectors. It envisions a “high quality African education and training system that is geared towards the promotion of critical knowledge and skills for accelerated and sustainable development in Africa”. https://www.adeanet.org

About the ADEA WGHE:

Hosted by AAU, the Working Group on Higher Education (WGHE) is one of the working groups established by the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA). It was established in 1989 to strengthen collaboration among African governments, development partners, and tertiary education institutions to improve the effectiveness of development assistance. WGHE draws on its extensive knowledge of the education sector to help tertiary institutions in Africa devise creative responses to challenges and promote consensus among governments and development partners around the revitalization of policies and strategies. Participants in WGHE include African higher education institutions, African governments and Ministries of Education, and development partners supporting the revitalization of tertiary education in Africa.

About AAU:

The Association of African Universities (AAU), whose headquarters is in Accra, Ghana, was founded in Rabat, Morocco on November 12th, 1967, following recommendations made at an earlier conference organized by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Antananarivo, Madagascar in September 1962 for the formation of such an apex organization. The Association possesses a unique capacity to convene Higher Education institutional leaders and policy-makers from all parts of the continent and on key issues related to African Higher Education and development. In addition, the Association provides leadership in the identification of emerging issues and support for debating them and facilitating appropriate follow-up action by its members, partners and other stakeholders. The AAU’s carefully thought out programs have contributed towards improving the quality and relevance of Higher Education in Africa and consequently contributed to Africa’s development. The Association has provided a platform for research, reflection, consultation, debates, co-operation and collaboration on issues pertaining to higher education. https://www.aau.org