About the webinar series

This virtual webinar series was organised as an immediate follow-up to the Africa-EU Summit (17-18 February). It aimed to provide an opportunity for the higher education sector in Africa and Europe to better understand the commitments made at the Summit, to discuss specific issues and to share initiatives that would contribute to the achievement of the goals set and create opportunities in line with the Summit’s focus on higher education, skills and research. It was organised jointly by AAU, the coordinator of the Higher Education Cluster of the African Union Continental Strategy for Education (CESA) and OBREAL Global, with the support and contribution of key regional higher education associations in Africa and Europe. The series was open to all interested stakeholders in the higher education and research sector across the African continent, as well as EU counterparts and partners in other regions of the world with a keen interest in African higher education development and its global projection.

The dialogue series in sponsored by the HAQAA2 Initiative, a flagship initiative of the Africa-EU Partnership funded by the EU, which has provided a platform for advancing higher education harmonisation in Africa and contributing to the realisation of the CESA objectives for higher education.
The series commenced with a launch webinar on the 24th March, which framed the series. Further events will highlight specific aspects of the Summit’s Declaration and explore the role of universities and the higher education sector its realising objectives. Each event will be 1.5 hours and contain a mix of short statements from speakers, panel discussion and short case study presentations. The events will have French, English and Portuguese interpretation. Each webinar, in addition to being organised by OBREAL Global and AAU, will include other co-organisers/strategic partners from Africa and Europe, including relevant organisations involved in the HAQAA initiative.

Info on the Africa-EU Summit here

PROGRAMME

WEBINAR 1

 

24 March 2022 – 10am GMT | 11am Nigeria | 12 noon CAT | 1pm East Africa | 11am CET

The Africa-EU Summit: Main take-aways for the higher education sector

This first webinar provided a synopsis of what was discussed and agreed at the Africa-EU Summit, and extracted the main points of interest for the university sector. It will be the basis of further exploration in dedicated thematic webinars.

  • Olusola Oyewole, Secretary General, AAU
  • Ramon Torrent, President , OBREAL Global
  • Deirdre Lennan, DG INTPA, European Commission
  • Michael Hörig, Director of its Brussels Office, DAAD
  • Albert Nsengiyumva, Association for the Development of Education in Africa
  • Cathrine Ngila, The African Academy of Sciences
  • Amr Ezzat Salama, Association of Arab Universities
WATCH THE RECORDING

WEBINAR 1

 

24 March 2022 

10am GMT | 11am CET

The Africa-EU Summit: Main take-aways for the higher education sector

This webinar will explore one of the main focal points of the Africa-EU Summit, the importance of investing in and developing relevant skills for entrepreneurship, and the links between the higher education sector and entrepreneurial jobs. It will examine current EU and other EU member states programmes that support this sector, and shed light on new African initiatives and alliances working towards the entrepreneurship agenda.

  • Olusola Oyewole, Secretary General, AAU
  • Ramon Torrent, President , OBREAL Global
  • Deirdre Lennan, DG INTPA, European Commission
  • Michael Hörig, Director of its Brussels Office, DAAD
  • Albert Nsengiyumva, Association for the Development of Education in Africa
  • Cathrine Ngila, The African Academy of Sciences
  • Amr Ezzat Salama, Association of Arab Universities
WATCH THE RECORDING

WEBINAR 2

 

25 May 2022 – 15:00-16:30 CEST / 13:00-14:30 GMT

Entrepreneurial skills development for Africa – A new focus and impetus

This webinar explored one of the main focal points of the Africa-EU Summit, the importance of investing in and developing relevant skills for entrepreneurship, and the links between the higher education sector and entrepreneurial jobs. It examined current EU and other EU member states programmes that support this sector, and shed light on new African initiatives and alliances working towards the entrepreneurship agenda.

  • Ms. Carla Giulietti, Education, Audio-visual and Culture Executive Agency, European Commission
  • Mr. Samuel Matonda, CEO of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KNCCI)
  • Prof. Slim Khalbous, Rector of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF)
  • Dr Rosemond Aboagyea Boohene, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Small Enterprise Development of the Cape Coast University
  • Prof. Utz Dornberger, Professor of Development Economics, Leipzig University

Chair: Prof Olusola Oyewole, Secretary General, Association of Africa Universities (AAU)

watch the recording PROGRAMME

WEBINAR 2

 

25 May 2022

15:00-16:30 CEST / 13:00-14:30 GMT

Entrepreneurial skills development for Africa – A new focus and impetus

This webinar will explore one of the main focal points of the Africa-EU Summit, the importance of investing in and developing relevant skills for entrepreneurship, and the links between the higher education sector and entrepreneurial jobs. It will examine current EU and other EU member states programmes that support this sector, and shed light on new African initiatives and alliances working towards the entrepreneurship agenda.

  • Ms. Carla Giulietti, Education, Audio-visual and Culture Executive Agency, European Commission
  • Mr. Samuel Matonda, CEO of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KNCCI)
  • Prof. Slim Khalbous, Rector of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF)
  • Dr Rosemond Aboagyea Boohene, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Small Enterprise Development of the Cape Coast University
  • Prof. Utz Dornberger, Professor of Development Economics

Chair: Prof Olusola Oyewole, Secretary General, Association of Africa Universities (AAU)

SIGN UP PROGRAMME

WEBINAR 3

 

22 June 2022 – 11:00-12:30 CEST / 09-10:30 GMT

Digitalisation and higher education – New opportunities and challenges for Africa and Europe

This webinar focused specifically on digitisation trends in the Higher Education sector in Africa. It explored the current challenges, linked to the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, but also the opportunities it has unfolded. It compared, through case studies and panel discussions, the challenges shared by African and European HEIs in terms of infrastructure and also the needs for strategies that take advantage of the major changes that the HE sector has undergone in the last two years. Speakers explored the training needs of staff and students to take advantage of digitalisation and also reflected on how Europe and Africa can cooperate in this field. Particular emphasis was placed on teaching and learning, as well as internationalisation, and how digitisation can underpin their transformation. African Union and EU investments in this regard were highlighted.

  • James Jowi, African Network for Internationalisation: Intro presentation on trends in digitalisation and internationalisation in Africa
  • Nodumo Dhlamini, Director of Communications, Association of African Universities (AAU)
  • Anastasia Economou, Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Sevilla
  • Maissa Mbaye – Center for Mathematics Computer Science and ICT, Senegal
  • Sharon Flynn, Director for Digital Education, Irish University Association (IUA), Ireland

Moderator: Michael Gaebel, Director of Higher Education Policy Unit, European University Association (EUA)

WATCH THE RECORDING

WEBINAR 3

 

22 June 2022

11:00-12:30 CEST / 09-10:30 GMT

Digitalisation and higher education – New opportunities and challenges for Africa and Europe

This webinar will provide a specific focus on digitalisation trends in the African higher education sector. It will explore the current challenges, linked to the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, but also the opportunities it has unfolded. It will compare, through case studies and panel discussion, the challenges that African and European HEI share regarding infrastructure and also the needs for strategies that capitalize on the major changes the HE sector has experienced in the past two years. Panelists will explore capacity building needs of staff and students to harnass digitalisation and also reflect on how Europe and Africa can cooperate in this field. It will place a specific focus on teaching and learning as well as on internationalisation, and how digitalisation can underpin their transformation. The investments of the African Union and the EU in this respect will be highlighted.

  • James Jowi, African Network for Internationalisation: Intro presentation on trends in digitalisation and internationalisation in Africa
  • Nodumo Dhlamini, Director of Communications, Association of African Universities (AAU)
  • Riina Vourikari, Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Sevilla
  • Maissa Mbaye – Center for Mathematics Computer Science and ICT, Senegal
  • Sharon Flynn, Director for Digital Education, Irish University Association (IUA), Ireland

Moderator: Michael Gaebel, Director of Higher Education Policy Unit, European University Association (EUA)

SIGN UP programme

WEBINAR 4

 

18 July 2022, 11h CEST / 09h GMT

University research for innovation, resilience and poverty reduction

This webinar will examine the high focus that the EU-Africa Summit has placed on research capacity in Africa and strategic research partnerships between Africa and Europe. It will look in particular at African continental and Europe-Africa initiatives for research and innovation capacity building and will place special focus on how Africa research can be oriented towards resilience and poverty reduction. 

The event will be jointly hosted by AAU, OBREAL Global and SARUA (The South African Regional Universities Association).

Presentation on EU investment and funding initiatives/capacity building for African research:

  • Ms. Nienke Buisman, Head of Unit F.2 International Cooperation, Directorate General Research and Innovation, European Commission

Case studies from African universities:

  • Stella A. Amoa, Association of Research Universities of Africa (ARUA) 
  • Professor Chomora Mikeka, Director of Science, Technology and Innovation in the Education Ministry of Malawi
  • Dr. Marirajan Thiruppathi, DVC: Research and Innovation, UNICAF, Zambia
  • Rosemary Wolson, Vice President: Innovation and Technology Transfer, Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) and Director: Technology Transfer Office, University of Johannesburg

Launch of the African Research, Innovation, and Development Network –

  • Prof. Olusola Oyewole, Secretary General, AAU

Chair: Martin Oosthuizen, CEO, SARUA

 

watch the recording SPEAKERS INFO

 

WEBINAR 4 - University research for innovation, resilience and poverty reduction

SPEAKERS INFO

Martin Oosthuizen - Executive Director of the SARUA

Short bio

Martin is the Executive Director of the Southern African Regional Universities Association (SARUA), an association that promotes regional collaboration and networking in the higher education sector in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). He is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Cape Higher Education Consortium (CHEC), which promotes collaboration between the four universities in the Western Cape. Following an academic career in Theology, he moved into university management, serving as Deputy Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Learning at North-West University from June 2011 to June 2017.

Martin has been extensively involved in national and institutional projects relating to standards setting, quality assurance and qualifications design in the South African higher education sector. He has served on the South African HEQC, and has been an international reviewer for the Oman Academic Accreditation Authority, and the Quality Assurance Agency in Scotland.

Ms Nienke Buisman - Head of Unit “International Cooperation II – Asia, Africa, Middle East & External Relations”, DG Research & Innovation (DG RTD), European Commission

Short bio

Ms Buisman is the Head of Unit International Cooperation in the European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation. She is in charge of developing and implementing the EU’s research and innovation cooperation policy with Africa, Asia and the Middle East. She started her career in the European Commission in Directorate-General Transport and Energy as the assistant to the Resources Director. Before joining the European Commission, she has worked for UNICEF and the Assembly of French Chambers of Commerce in Brussels, Belgium. She holds an MSc in Development Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She also holds a double French-British MA in European Public Policy.

Prof Chomora Mikeka - Director of Science, Technology and Innovation in the Ministry of Education, Malawi Government

Short bio

Prof Chomora Mikeka is the Director of Science, Technology and Innovation in the Ministry of Education, Malawi Government and Associate Professor of Physics at Chancellor College, University of Malawi. He holds a Doctorate in Engineering from the Division of Physics, Electrical and Computer Engineering at Yokohama National University, Japan, and is the Chairperson of the African Standards Organization (ARSO TC 78 – Medical Devices), National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST), Pharmacy, Medicines and Regulatory Authority (PMRA) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Medical Devices Forum Technical Working Group.

Prof. Mariarajan Thiruppathi - DVC: Research and Innovation, UNICAF, Zambia

Short bio

Prof. Mariarajan Thiruppathi working as Deputy Vice Chancellor – Research and Innovation, at Unicaf University with an interdisciplinary PhD in community governance and resource management. He is working in Africa with different capacities and teaches physical, blended and online graduate courses in sociology & social work and educational administration. His current research focuses ecosystem approaches, sustainable livelihoods, Sustainable farming, Climate resilient, socio-economics monitoring and governance. He engaged action research & development and outreach activities in partnership with regional and international inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations such as the FAO, University of West Indies, UK based International Institute of Environment and Development (IIED) and Institute for Development Studies (IDS), Finland based Siemenpuu Foundation & CGP, SOS International – Zambia. He published 15 articles and 2 books. He is doing consultancies to academic institutions and NGOs for training and curriculum development & program accreditation. He is instrumental in setting research and innovation department in Higher learning institutions and motivated both staffs and students to engage community based research.

Rosemary Wolson - Vice President: Innovation and Technology Transfer, Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) and Director: Technology Transfer Office, University of Johannesburg

 

Short bio

Rosemary is the Vice-President for Innovation and Technology Transfer of the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association and Director of the University of Johannesburg Technology Transfer Office. She joined UJ from the CSIR where, as Senior Intellectual Property Manager, she was responsible for managing the IP portfolio to support technology transfer. At UCT before that, she was involved in establishing a new technology transfer office and developing the research contract management function. She has also worked as a researcher at the Science and Technology Policy Research Centre at UCT. Rosemary has a B.Sc (Hons) in Microbiology, an LLB and an MPhil, all from UCT. She has participated as a member or advisor to various stakeholder bodies, including the National IP Management Office Advisory Board. Rosemary has published in peer-reviewed publications; presented on innovation topics at conferences and seminars in South Africa and internationally; and has acted as a mentor and provided training, facilitation and capacity-building, in co-operation with several African programmes (including ACTS, ASARECA, BIO-Earn/Bio-Innovate, Global Biodiversity Institute, Southern Africa Innovation Support, SANBio), as well as other organisations. She acts by invitation as a peer reviewer and an external examiner. She is passionate about innovation and its potential to change lives for the better.

and provided training, facilitation and capacity-building, in co-operation with several African programmes
(including ACTS, ASARECA, BIO-Earn/Bio-Innovate, Global Biodiversity Institute, Southern Africa Innovation
Support, SANBio), as well as other organisations. She acts by invitation as a peer reviewer and an external
examiner. She is passionate about innovation and its potential to change lives for the better.

Prof. Olusola Oyewole - Secretary General, AAU

Short bio

Accomplished Executive and Change Agent with more than 25 years in Higher Education, committed to excellence, creating and facilitating innovative programs, engaging educational initiatives, and progressive professional development. A Professor of Food Science and Technology (Food Microbiology and Biotechnology), and the immediate past vice-chancellor at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

Professor Oyewole has worked as a Senior Expert (Quality Assurance, Mobility and Scholarships) at the Human Resources, Science and Technology Department of the African Union Commission in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, and as Project Coordinator for Quality Assurance at the Association of African Universities in Accra, Ghana. Prior to joining the African Union Commission, he was the coordinator of the British Government sponsored project on the “Mobilization of Regional Initiatives for the revitalization of higher education in Africa,” at the Association of African Universities (AAU), Accra, Ghana.

Professor Oyewole is currently the Secretary General of the Association of African Universities, Accra, Ghana.

WEBINAR 4

 

18 July 2022

11h CEST / 09h GMT

University research for innovation, resilience and poverty reduction

This webinar will examine the high focus that the EU-Africa Summit has placed on research capacity in Africa and strategic research partnerships between Africa and Europe. It will look in particular at African continental and Europe-Africa initiatives for research and innovation capacity building and will place special focus on how Africa research can be oriented towards resilience and poverty reduction. 

The event will be jointly hosted by AAU, OBREAL Global and SARUA (The South African Regional Universities Association).

Presentation on EU investment and funding initiatives/capacity building for African research:

  • Ms. Nienke Buisman, Head of Unit F.2 International Cooperation, Directorate General Research and Innovation, European Commission

Case studies from African universities:

  • Association of Research Universities of Africa (ARUA) – TBC
  • Professor Chomora Mikeka, Director of Science, Technology and Innovation in the Education Ministry of Malawi
  • Dr. Marirajan Thiruppathi, DVC: Research and Innovation, UNICAF, Zambia
  • Rosemary Wolson, Vice President: Innovation and Technology Transfer, Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) and Director: Technology Transfer Office, University of Johannesburg

Launch of the African Research, Innovation, and Development Network –

  • Prof. Olusola Oyewole, Secretary General, AAU

Chair: Martin Oosthuizen, CEO, SARUA

 

register SPEAKERS INFO

WEBINAR 4 - University research for innovation, resilience and poverty reduction

SPEAKERS INFO

Martin Oosthuizen - Executive Director of the SARUA

Short bio

Martin is the Executive Director of the Southern African Regional Universities Association (SARUA), an association that promotes regional collaboration and networking in the higher education sector in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). He is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Cape Higher Education Consortium (CHEC), which promotes collaboration between the four universities in the Western Cape. Following an academic career in Theology, he moved into university management, serving as Deputy Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Learning at North-West University from June 2011 to June 2017.

Martin has been extensively involved in national and institutional projects relating to standards setting, quality assurance and qualifications design in the South African higher education sector. He has served on the South African HEQC, and has been an international reviewer for the Oman Academic Accreditation Authority, and the Quality Assurance Agency in Scotland.

Ms Nienke Buisman - Head of Unit “International Cooperation II – Asia, Africa, Middle East & External Relations”, DG Research & Innovation (DG RTD), European Commission

Short bio

Ms Buisman is the Head of Unit International Cooperation in the European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation. She is in charge of developing and implementing the EU’s research and innovation cooperation policy with Africa, Asia and the Middle East. She started her career in the European Commission in Directorate-General Transport and Energy as the assistant to the Resources Director. Before joining the European Commission, she has worked for UNICEF and the Assembly of French Chambers of Commerce in Brussels, Belgium. She holds an MSc in Development Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She also holds a double French-British MA in European Public Policy.

Prof Chomora Mikeka - Director of Science, Technology and Innovation in the Ministry of Education, Malawi Government

Short bio

Prof Chomora Mikeka is the Director of Science, Technology and Innovation in the Ministry of Education, Malawi Government and Associate Professor of Physics at Chancellor College, University of Malawi. He holds a Doctorate in Engineering from the Division of Physics, Electrical and Computer Engineering at Yokohama National University, Japan, and is the Chairperson of the African Standards Organization (ARSO TC 78 – Medical Devices), National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST), Pharmacy, Medicines and Regulatory Authority (PMRA) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Medical Devices Forum Technical Working Group.

Prof. Mariarajan Thiruppathi - DVC: Research and Innovation, UNICAF, Zambia

Short bio

Prof. Mariarajan Thiruppathi working as Deputy Vice Chancellor – Research and Innovation, at Unicaf University with an interdisciplinary PhD in community governance and resource management. He is working in Africa with different capacities and teaches physical, blended and online graduate courses in sociology & social work and educational administration. His current research focuses ecosystem approaches, sustainable livelihoods, Sustainable farming, Climate resilient, socio-economics monitoring and governance. He engaged action research & development and outreach activities in partnership with regional and international inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations such as the FAO, University of West Indies, UK based International Institute of Environment and Development (IIED) and Institute for Development Studies (IDS), Finland based Siemenpuu Foundation & CGP, SOS International – Zambia. He published 15 articles and 2 books. He is doing consultancies to academic institutions and NGOs for training and curriculum development & program accreditation. He is instrumental in setting research and innovation department in Higher learning institutions and motivated both staffs and students to engage community based research.

Rosemary Wolson - Vice President: Innovation and Technology Transfer, Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) and Director: Technology Transfer Office, University of Johannesburg

Short bio

Rosemary is the Vice-President for Innovation and Technology Transfer of the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association and Director of the University of Johannesburg Technology Transfer Office. She joined UJ from the CSIR where, as Senior Intellectual Property Manager, she was responsible for managing the IP portfolio to support technology transfer. At UCT before that, she was involved in establishing a new technology transfer office and developing the research contract management function. She has also worked as a researcher at the Science and Technology Policy Research Centre at UCT. Rosemary has a B.Sc (Hons) in Microbiology, an LLB and an MPhil, all from UCT. She has participated as a member or advisor to various stakeholder bodies, including the National IP Management Office Advisory Board. Rosemary has published in peer-reviewed publications; presented on innovation topics at conferences and seminars in South Africa and internationally; and has acted as a mentor and provided training, facilitation and capacity-building, in co-operation with several African programmes (including ACTS, ASARECA, BIO-Earn/Bio-Innovate, Global Biodiversity Institute, Southern Africa Innovation Support, SANBio), as well as other organisations. She acts by invitation as a peer reviewer and an external examiner. She is passionate about innovation and its potential to change lives for the better.

Prof. Olusola Oyewole - Secretary General, AAU

Short bio

Accomplished Executive and Change Agent with more than 25 years in Higher Education, committed to excellence, creating and facilitating innovative programs, engaging educational initiatives, and progressive professional development. A Professor of Food Science and Technology (Food Microbiology and Biotechnology), and the immediate past vice-chancellor at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

Professor Oyewole has worked as a Senior Expert (Quality Assurance, Mobility and Scholarships) at the Human Resources, Science and Technology Department of the African Union Commission in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, and as Project Coordinator for Quality Assurance at the Association of African Universities in Accra, Ghana. Prior to joining the African Union Commission, he was the coordinator of the British Government sponsored project on the “Mobilization of Regional Initiatives for the revitalization of higher education in Africa,” at the Association of African Universities (AAU), Accra, Ghana.

Professor Oyewole is currently the Secretary General of the Association of African Universities, Accra, Ghana.