UNESCO Forum on Higher Education in Africa: A Driver for Sustainable Development | Forum UNESCO sur l'Enseignement Supérieur en Afrique : Un moteur pour le développement durable

Ceremonial entry of the Ministers of Higher Education (Egypt, Gabon, Senegal and the Minister of Education of Kenya)

Ceremonial dance to welcome the participants.

Welcome remarks: Dr Borhene Chakroun, Director, Division for Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems, UNESCO

• Opening message from Ms Stefania Giannini - UNESCO ADG for Education (video link)
• Opening message from H.E. Prof. Mohamed Belhocine – AU Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (video link)
• Opening message from H.E. Julius Migos Ogamba, Minister of Education, Kenya

Group Photo

Goal: Bringing messages from young people at this year’s AU Pan-African Youth Forum on the theme of “1 Million Next Level is Knocking: Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century.”

Ms. Rachel Kamana, Youth representative of the UNESCO SDG 4 Youth & Student Network

Ms. Ahirirwe Leticia, Student representative, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda. Will speak about her expectations for higher education in Africa and calls to action, sharing experiences as a beneficiary of the CFIT III project.

Goal: Higher Education Ministers will discuss opportunities and challenges facing higher education systems in Africa and offer directions for national, sub-regional intra-continental cooperation.

Moderator: Dr. Borhene Chakroun, Director of the Division for Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems, UNESCO

Panel members:

Prof. Mohamed Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Egypt

Prof. Hervé Ndoume Essingone, ministre de l'Enseignement supérieur, la Recherche scientifique et l'Innovation technologique, Gabon

Dr Ababacar Gueye, Directeur de cabinet du ministre de l'Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche et de l'Innovation, Sénégal

Dr. Kedrace Rwankore Turyagyenda, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education and Sports of Uganda

Driving higher education excellence and inclusion for the Africa of tomorrow

Goal: This session will explore national and regional perspectives, programming and innovative financing for African higher education excellence, knowledge production and skilling. It will raise awareness of the efforts of regional development partners, universities, their networks and eco-systems, the private sector, and student representative bodies to work together to optimize the continent's human capital, knowledge and research potential, and the importance of synergies and strategic partnerships for incubating success stories and scaling impacts.

Moderator: Dr Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, Principal Secretary Higher education and Research

Panel members: Speaker Profiles

Mr Sunday Akile, Senior Programme Officer, Legal and Policy, African Union Development Agency-NEPAD. Will speak about how the multi-faceted approach adopted by the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa's Development (AUDA-NEPAD) supports higher education, research, development, and innovation (RDI), and tertiary skilling across Africa, including: i) the Skills for Africa initiative which highlights TVET's critical role in sectoral skilling, career development and societal advancement to engage young Africans, and works closely with youth to co-create innovative solutions and amplify their voices in shaping TVET's future; ii) support to the Pan-African University; iii) recognizing the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in economic growth; iv) actively engaging in international collaborations to enhance education and RDI in Africa.

Dr Cosam C. Joseph. Regional Project Coordinator for the East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP) under the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA). Will speak about his work to align educational outcomes with regional economic needs and his efforts to harmonize TVET and skills qualifications frameworks among Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania, thereby facilitating labor mobility and regional integration.

Dr. Martha Oigo, Equity Leaders Programme at Equity Bank. Will speak about the Equity Leaders Program (ELP), established in 1998, to nurture top-performing students across Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, focusing on personal and professional development, global exposure, creativity and innovation, and community engagement. To date, ELP has benefited over 18,735 scholars, with many securing admissions to prestigious global universities and taking on leadership roles across various sectors.

Mr Andrew Masila, Lead Technology and Innovation, Safaricom. To speak about how Safaricom is supporting the Kenyan government to modernize higher education and tertiary skilling and, in doing so, to transform HEIs into engines of development, optimizing the brightest ideas emerging from the country’s universities, polytechnics and innovation hubs, and supporting young researchers, entrepreneurs, innovators and human capital to incubate breakthrough solutions to local development challenges.

Mr El Hadj Hussein TAPILY, All-Africa Students Union (AASU). Will speak about youth perspectives on future-fit, equitable, responsive higher education systems in Africa from his experience listening to students, their hopes, aspirations and concerns about the relevance of their studies and finding productive, decent work in today’s job markets. Will talk about the AASU's strategies for improving access and relevance of higher education offer, including efforts to open up more flexible learning pathways, increase student mobility and access to financing and infrastructure to support their studies.

Dr Victor Konde, Scientific Affairs Officer, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). Will speak about how African higher education can drive innovation through entrepreneurship policies, technology transfer, and knowledge production, emphasize youth empowerment in STEM fields, sustainable innovation funding modes, and the importance of aligning national and regional higher education, RDI, economic, and employment policies with global standards to enhance innovation ecosystems.

Q & A

Round Table 1: “Rethinking Higher Education in Africa for a Sustainable Future” (UNESCO-UNECA Joint Session)

Goal: A discussion co-designed by UNESCO-UNECA bringing together representatives of the higher education community, UNESCO Chairs, private sector and youth to identify the trends, innovations and digital transformations shaping the higher education sector across Africa, and the political, regulatory, institutional and financing reforms needed to support a more demand-driven, results-oriented higher education offer that meets the needs of sustainability and inclusive growth.

(The session will start with messages from UNECA SOFT)

Moderator: Ms Josephine Marealle Ulimwengu, Chief, Systems-Wide Coherence and Quality Assurance Section, UNECA

Panel members: Speaker Profiles

Dr. Dennis Mwighusa, Executive Director of the Africa Research Institute for AI (ARIFA): Will speak about initiatives aimed at leveraging AI and emerging technologies to address complex challenges in Africa, including AI for good and in the service of addressing sustainability challenges across the agriculture and renewable energies sectors.

Prof. Thomas Senaji, Digitalization Expert, UN Economic Commission for Africa. Will speak “about the impact of digitization, ICT4D including Digital Id, Digital Trade and digital economy, on the higher education sector in Africa, including internet governance issues, digital infrastructures including Broadband, nanotechnology, Internet related research (IoT, Cloud services, artificial intelligence, digital payment systems).”

Ms Ropafadzo Sandra Shoko, Youth Entrepreneur, Lawyer Science and Technology Incubation Hub Admin, Startups Bea, and Founder of NPO Mentor Me Please. To speak about young people’s aspirations for the future of higher education in Africa.

Q & A

Round Table 2: Supporting student and academic mobility and inter-university cooperation within the higher education sector across Africa (Campus Africa Pillar 2)

Goal: This session will look at opportunities and challenges for student mobility between African universities and across the continent, showcasing diverse in-person and virtual solutions, partner support and approaches - including through inter-university collaboration, scholarships, grants and fellowship opportunities for faculty and doctoral students, e-learning and knowledge exchange and through mobilization through higher education and research networks.

Moderator - Dr Jouhaina Gherib, Chaire UNESCO sur l’enseignement supérieur pour le développement durable en Afrique, University of Manouba, Tunisia

Panel members: Speaker Profiles

Mr Harald E. Nybølet, Deputy Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, The Permanent Delegation of Norway to the OECD and UNESCO. Will speak about the importance to NORAD and NORHED programming of mobility within and across academic and research environments and how NORHED supports qualified female students and marginalized/underrepresented groups working within specific sectoral ecosystems to expand their experience through interaction and exchanges with other universities. He will also talk about the Refugee Qualification Passport and the challenges and opportunities of supporting refugees to complete higher education.

Dr Phillip Machoka, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program e-Learning Initiative Project, Director USIU Online: Will speak about how Mastercard supports high-quality, inclusive online programs aimed at expanding access to higher education across Africa, offering flexibility and accessibility without compromising educational quality, catering especially to working professionals and learners facing barriers to traditional education.

Dr Dominique Dumet, Conseillère scientifique pour l'Afrique - Scientific Adviser for Africa: l'Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD) for East Africa: Will speak about doctoral programmes supported and co-financed by IRD which are managed by the AUF Central Africa and Great Lakes Regional Directorates. Each year, 30 to 40 doctoral students benefit from opportunities for South-South or South-North mobility and cross-disciplinary training, as well as support from a committee of sub-regional experts.

Professor Armand Claude Abanda, Chaire UNESCO « Partenariat stratégique et institutionnel pour l'accès des jeunes et des femmes aux technologies de l’information et de la communication en Afrique, Cameroon: Will speak about how emerging technologies in Africa are supporting virtual mobility across universities.

Q & A

Goal: Participants will share examples of solutions, emerging approaches and success stories of how higher technical education systems are becoming more responsive, demand-driven and better joined up with local employment and development policies to support inclusive growth and/or resilient communities. This includes academia-industry efforts to realign curricula to skills-in-demand in fast growing green and digital sectors, more flexible, inclusive skills pathways, enhancing graduate employability services and facilitating eco-systems around entrepreneurship opportunities for young people.

Moderator - Mr Daniel Omanyo: Research Manager, Education Sub-Saharan Africa

Panel members: Speaker Profiles

Professor Cherifa Abdelbaki, UNESCO Chair for Sustainable Development and Resilience (in establishment): Addressing Climate Change, Water Security, Food Sustainability, and Energy Resilience (SUDARE), University of Tlemcen, Algeria: Will set the scene across her areas of competence for why demand-driven solutions for tertiary training, skills development and career support are needed to drive youth employability, entrepreneurship and innovation in priority areas.

Mr Gideon Murenga, Senior TVET and Labour Markets Advisor - Youth Employment and Vocational Training at GIZ. Will speak about GIZ support to Kenya in enhancing skills development and TVET training and particularly in enhancing collaboration between TVET schools and private sector industries as an innovative approach to Higher Technical Education.

Mr Rino Pugliano, Training Director, Nuove technologie della vita Academy (ITS), Italy: Will speak about the ITS model for co-creating tertiary-industry for skilling and training corresponding to skills in demand in key green growth sectors and the ITS approach supporting employability and tracking labour market transition.

Dr Doreen Irungu, MentorMatch, Winner of TechWomen 2024: Will speak about why she co-founded the online mentoring solution (MentorMatch) with a team from Safaricom, Google and Blockchain Africa matching tertiary students with mentors and lifelong learning opportunities. Won the 2024 TechWomen Challenge. Has also trained over 7000 young people with tertiary skills in agritech.

Q & A

Goal: The session will explore examples of how data is collected and used for global and regional tracking of HE systems and their contribution to resolving global and national development challenges. It will also look at the importance of data to HE and tertiary institutions for forecasting enrolments, resource allocation, planning and programme design, institutional management, and tracking the impacts of research and labour market transition rates.

Moderator: Mr Said Ould Ahmedou Voffal, Senior Programme Specialist, UNESCO Yaounde

Panel Members: Speaker profiles

Mr Alpha Bah, UNESCO-UIS: To speak about global data collection on the higher education sector and tracking the current and future contributions of the higher education sector to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Professor Gaspard Banyankimbona, Inter-University Council for Eastern Africa (IUCEA). Will speak about how IUCEA is working with universities in the East Africa region to strengthen data collection mechanisms and transform data for decision making at institutional and government level.

Ms Magdaline Chepkemoi, Co-Founder, EldoHub. Will speak about how the outstanding Kenyan tertiary digital skills provider, EldoHub, uses data on sector-specific demand for digital skilling, previous trainee experience and professional profiles to design the training offer, how it measures labour market impacts across 40 Counties, and how the results inform national decision making.

Mr. Ayenika Godheart Mbiydzenyuy: African Centre for Statistics. *Will speak on the work of the African Centre for Statistics’ and its mission to support national statistical systems in Africa to produce high quality statistics, data and geospatial information to inform sound and evidence decision-making in support of sustainable development, regional and national priorities. *

Q & A

Round Table 5: The Addis Convention – Ensuring the recognition of qualifications and robust quality assurance mechanisms.

Goal: The session will focus on developments related to the Addis Convention, including country efforts to ensure the fair, transparent and non-discriminatory recognition of qualifications, establish/enhance adequate quality assurance mechanisms and operationalize the African Network of National Implementation Structures to foster mutual exchange and build trust among higher education systems in the region.

Moderator Dr Peter J. Wells, UNESCO ROSA Head of Education

Panel members: Speaker Profiles

Professor Lamine Gueye, Head of ANAQ-Sup Senegal and President of the Convention Committee, President of Réseau Africain Francophone des Agences Nationales d’Assurance Qualité (RAFANAQ), representative of the African Quality Assurance Network (AfriQAN): Will discuss progress in implementing the Addis Convention, including the establishment of quality assurance agencies, improved legislation, and regional networks for collaboration. He will also outline future priorities, such as expanding ratification, strengthening implementation structures, and enhancing information systems.

Ms Mercy Ngoma, Head of the Zambian Qualifications Authority: Will discuss Zambia’s challenges in developing robust quality assurance mechanisms, including capacity constraints and aligning national systems with regional standards. She will share best practices, such as Zambia’s comprehensive qualifications framework and collaborative efforts to strengthen internal and external quality assurance across institutions.

Mr Romualdo Correia, Director General of Higher Education, Cabo Verde: Will share Cabo Verde’s experience in creating the independent quality assurance agency (ARES) to oversee accreditation and evaluation. He will highlight the country’s efforts to address systemic challenges, strengthen partnerships, and integrate into regional and global quality assurance networks for mutual recognition.

Mr Koffi Jondo, Director General of Higher Education, Togo: Will highlight Togo’s implementation of the Addis Convention through its National Commission for Recognition of Diplomas, addressing challenges like outdated records and delays in information exchange. He will also discuss recent innovations, including internal quality units in institutions and the creation of the National Agency for Quality Assurance (ANAQES) to enhance accreditation and employability.

Mr Abdullahi Mire, Youth voice, 2023 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award Global Laureate: Will highlight challenges faced by refugees in accessing qualification recognition, such as incompatible standards, documentation barriers, and unemployment. He will propose solutions like harmonized frameworks, inclusive policies, and streamlined skills validation to promote inclusivity and leverage the potential of displaced populations.

Q & A

H.E. Mr Hervé T NDOUME ESSINGONE, Minister, Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation, Gabon

H.E. Dr Kora Tushune, State Minister for Education, Ethiopia

H.E. Ms. Xinyu Yang, Ambassador, Permanent Delegation of the People's Republic of China to UNESCO

Ms. Louise Haxthausen, Director, Multisectoral Regional Office for Eastern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya

Group photo

Goal: This session will introduce the key programming directions, implementation modalities and main achievements of the CFIT III project; an initiative aligning higher technical education and skills training in 6 African pilot countries with local labour market demand, and which supports students transition to employment or entrepreneurship through career services, employability and transferable skills.

Speaker:
Dr Borhene Chakroun, Director, Division for Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems, UNESCO

Goal: The session will showcase CFIT III-supported achievements and flagship products across participating Higher Education Institutes (HEIs). The session will explore the significance of different flagship products for each participating Institute’s development and discuss how these can be applied sustainably and upscaled to other HEIs.

Segment 1, Moderator: Mr Elie Michel Kedjo, Programme Coordinator, UNESCO Dakar Office

Speakers:
-- Mr LOUM Georges Laussane, Executive Vice President, Pedagogy and Student Life, Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB), Côte d’Ivoire
-- Mr. Muluken Tadesse Waza, Professor, Federal Technical and Vocational Training Institute (TVTI), Ethiopia
-- Ms. Hermine Matari, Professor, University of Omar Bongo (UOB), Gabon
-- Mr. Medard Twinamatsiko, Director of Centre for Innovation and Technology Transfer, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Uganda

Q&A

Segment 2, Moderator: Mr Demissew Lemma, Project Coordinator, UNESCO Addis Ababa Office

Speakers
-- Mr. Olivier Obrou KOUADIO, Professor, University of Félix Houphouët-Boigny (UFHB), Côte d’Ivoire
-- Mr. Dinku Seyoum Zeleke, Professor, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU), Ethiopia
-- Mr. Baye Mama FALL, Professor, Polytechnic School of Cheikh Anta Diop University (ESP), Senegal
-- Mr. Zacharia Katambara, Professor, Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST), Tanzania

Q&A

Segment 3, Moderator: Mr Zié Daouda Kone, Project Coordinator of CFIT III, UNESCO Abidjan Office

Speakers:
-- Mr. Nicaise Manfoumbi Boussougou, Professor, University of Science and Technology of Masuku (USTM), Gabon
-- Mr. Joseph Kihedu, University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Tanzania
-- Mr. Salam Sawadogo, Professor, Polytechnic University of Thiès (EPT), Senegal
-- Ms. Dorothy Okello, Dean of School of Engineering, Makerere University, Uganda

Q&A

Goal: This session will use successful case studies to look at how higher technical education in Africa is responding through the elaboration of curricula and skills training in facilitating the green and digital transitions.

Moderator: Dr Dorcas Beryl Otieno, UNESCO Chair for Higher Education Development for a Green Economy and Sustainability (HEDGES) at Kenyatta University

Speakers:
-- Prof. Yufeng Liu, Loaned Expert, China Funds-in-Trust Project (CFIT III), UNESCO
-- Ms Priscilla Wanjiku Gatonye, Programme Officer, Inclusion and Youth – UNESCO-UNEVOC
-- Prof. Yang Wenming, PhD, Coordinator UNESCO Chair on Digitalization in TVET, Shenzhen Polytechnic University
-- Mr Michael Kamau, Head of Huawei ICT Academy in Kenya

Goal: This session will bring together CFIT III participating HEIs leadership to discuss how to extend the impact of CFIT III’s flagship products on a larger scale and enhance their sustainability.

Segment 1

Moderator: Ms Faith Shayo, National Professional Officer, UNESCO Dar er Salam Office

Speakers:
-- Mr. Zié BALLO, President, Félix Houphouët-Boigny University (UFHB), Côte d’Ivoire
-- Dr. Dereje Engida, President, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU), Ethiopia
-- Mr. Nicaise Alexis LEPENGUE, Vice-Rector in Charge of Pedagogy and Research, Polytechnic University of Science and Technology of Masuku (USTM), Gabon
-- Mr. Aloys Mvuma, Vice Chancellor, Mbeya University of Science and Technology, Tanzania
-- Prof. Pauline Byakika-Kibwika, Vice Chancellor, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Uganda

Q & A

Segment 2

Moderator: Mr Michée Thierry Asse Minko, National Project Administrator, UNESCO Libreville

Speakers:
-- Mr LOUM Georges Laussane, Executive Vice President, Pedagogy and Student Life, Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB), Côte d’Ivoire
-- Dr. Habtamu Andualem, Deputy Director General for Research and Community Services, Technical and Vocational Training Institute (TVTI), Ethiopia
-- Mr. Sylvestre KWAHOU, Vice-Rector in Charge of Student Affairs and Professional Integration, Omar Bongo University (UOB), Gabon
-- Mr. Lamine THIAW, Director of Studies, Higher Polytechnic School (ESP)/UCAD, Senegal
-- Mr. Eva Ibrahim Shayo**, Head of Industry Liaison, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Q & A

Goal: This session builds on cumulative CFIT III experiences to look at how the project is supporting and influencing national policies in the 6 pilot countries.

Moderator: Mr Borhene Chakroun, Director for Policies and Lifelong Learning, UNESCO

Speakers:
-- Mr. GRAFOUTE MOUSSA, premier directeur du laboratoire scientifique et doyen de l’UFR, Côte d'Ivoire
-- Mr. Alain Souza, Director General for Higher Education, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Gabon
-- Mr. Olivier Sagna, Director of Studies and Cooperation, Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Senegal
-- Mr Sakanda Gaima, Education Officer, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Tanzania
-- Mr Timothy Ssejjoba, Assistant Commissioner-University Education, Ministry of Education and Sports, Uganda

Q & A