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:

1. 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (Category A);
2. TVET Strategy: Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Strategy for Africa (Category B);
3. 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.
  Topic: Peace, Justice and Strong Institution

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
3. Linkage between formal and non-formal TVET.
4. Linkage of TVET to the labour market.
5. Harmonization of TVET programmes and qualification frameworks.
6. 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 45 minutes for presentation and 30 minutes 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.