Africa has the world’s youngest population and it is estimated that young people below the age of 35 account for more than 65% of Africa’s population. This offers the continent a unique opportunity to leverage its economic, social and political development in order to realize the demographic dividends. It is also in light of this that the African Union devoted the theme of the year 2017 to “Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investments in the Youth”. The demographic dividend discourse calls for improved access to quality education and skills development, employment and entrepreneurship, access to health information and services in a peaceful environment guided by good governance.

Over the past half century, China has been an increasingly important partner of Africa in education and training exchange and in industrial capacity cooperation. A central factor in ensuring that the cooperation and investments deliver on economic and social returns for both Africa and China depends on the quantity and quality of skills in African countries. Enhancing both how skills are delivered and the range and quality of skills will be a critical pillar for the economic transformation of African countries and the achievement of both Agenda 2063 and the global Sustainable Development Goals.

The number of scholarships and training opportunities provided by the Chinese government for African countries continue to grow. Yet, the effectiveness of the education and training programs, especially their contribution to the industrial development in Africa has largely remained unstudied. Key questions for discussions include:

• How can African countries benefit from intensified social, cultural and economic ties with China?
• How can China benefit from socially and economically sustainable investments into African economies?

To mobilize novel ideas, arguments and solutions to key issues in Africa-China relations, the African Union Commission is collaborating with Tianjin University of Technology and Education to host an International Symposium on China-Africa Educational Exchange and Industrial Capacity Cooperation.

The conference aims to integrate African perspectives on Africa-China cooperation in education/skills development and industrial capacity transfer, featuring presentations by African and Chinese scholars and officials. The conference will also bring together established and aspiring thought leaders on Africa-China collaboration, offering first-hand insights and unparalleled opportunities for networking and exchange.

Eligibility

The Conference Organizing Committee invites proposals for papers from scholars, experts, decision makers and opinion leaders on the following themes:

1. Education and Industrialization: Lessons and Experience of China.
2. Industrialization and Human Resource in Africa: Demands and Supply.

• China-Africa Industrial Capacity Cooperation: Achievements, Challenges and Future.

1. China-Africa Education and Training Cooperation and its Effect on China-African Industrial Cooperation.

The proposals may explore the undermentioned sub-thematic areas that could be embedded within more than one main themes.

1. Capacity Building to promote social protection interventions for enhancing access and retention in education, including Home Grown School Feeding and  Policy Support for Member States
2. A paper that uncovers the engagements of China-Africa relation
3. Internationalization of Higher Education and Research: Lessons for Africa; and
4. Quality Assurance in Higher Education: What lessons can Africa draw from the Chinese experience?
5. Forecasting for 21^st Century skills. Challenges and lessons in skills supply and demand in Africa.
6. Building Human capacity to unlock the Demographic Dividend in Africa

Proposal Submission 

Paper abstracts (not exceeding 500 words) and a curriculum vitae should be submitted to the Association of African Universities (AAU) by 7^th September 2017 via info@aau.org. The selection of papers for the symposium will be undertaken by the AAU.

Each papers has to stress on the points highlighted below:

1. Addressing the main theme or subthemes as exhaustive as possible
2. Concentrating on links to Africa–China Relation
3. Draw applicable lessons from Chinese experience to Africa

The deadline for submitting final paper is 6^th October 2017.

The Tianjin University Technology and Education will cover the costs for the participation of selected African experts.

Please access the call document here : Call for Papers Africa-China Conference