First day Opening Ceremony
MC Ms Elman Kheir, Head of Diaspora Directorate
The highlights of the Opening Ceremony emphasize the place of higher education in development, how to overcome the challenges, and how to tap into the resources of the African Diaspora, labeled as Africa's Sixth Rregion. Education is the heart of development; countries invest in education at all levels.
Challenges include quality, research,
AU has intensified its commitments in addressing the challenges of education.
What can the diaspora do for Africa; what can Africa do for the diaspora?
Welcome address by Mr. Ahmed El-Basheer, Director of the Citizens and Diaspora Directorate, African Union Commission
Pauline Rankine, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Carleton University, Canada.
Scholar of gender and politics. Carleton is a partner (of?)
How best to utilize the diaspora to move education forward/create a blueprint for collaboration/
Ms Claudia Fritelli, Carnegie Corporation
Praises Pius
States the mission of the Carnegie foundation
Invest in African diaspora linkages with Africa
A multi directional flows of programs---raising awareness among officials and academics about intitiatives to improve the quality of research, addressing communication challenges in relation to diaspora activities; how to ensure sustainability.
Keynote Addresses
Professor Oyewole Olusola, former president, Association of African Universities (AAU), and former VC of FUNAB.
Introduced Fikre Zewdie Degaga, the Executive Director, Ethiopian Diaspora Trust Fund
He introduced the AAU—to promote communication among universities; the voice of higher education in Africa, strengthen development of higher education; AAU comprises over 400 universities, recognizes the role of diaspora—can bring together a synergy; they have established an office in Washington D.C. they see the conference as an opportunity to enhance the quality of education, attain collaboration,
Higher education faces challenges that the diaspora can contribute.
Degaga―Has held many positions in the areas of education, security and health in Ethiopia, and has worked in Pakistan and worked as regional director of Oxfam
Talks about the story of Ethiopian trust Fund, based on the concept of unity, peace, and contributions to development. A one dollar a day that was successful, brought resources and skills. Set up a non-profit in the US, formed chapters. Money collected is dedicated to project financing.
46 chapters in 40 countries, collected $40 million to be used for over 200 projects on health, education, youth development.
To promote a collective objective irrespective of the people's politics and religion
Expected to deliver skills/ to influence change
Survey on priorities: education is of primary concern
Promises cooperation in several areas and projects
H.E., Obiageli Ezekwesili
Introduced by Professor Bayo Olukoshi who stresses the importance of higher education—that changes in some countries are underwritten by citizens in the diaspora. How do we use the huge diasporic resources to revitalize African education and drive projects?
Obiageli served as minister of education under Obasanjo—brought creativity and innovation to her job, public policy expert, currently working on how to use politics to transform Africa.
Pius represents a good citizen, exemplary academic, a space that is now empty because of his death.; symbol of he can do.
Suggest the following
1. Partnership and networks with the diaspora
2. Knowledge of the African themselves
3. Finance reviews remittances and realize its significance—outpaces development aid
Countries began to develop diaspora policies, starting with how to use doctors and nurses in the country; Cape Verde developed tourism.
Analytic in terms of what you can unlock. Education is the basis on which there is development and progress as the number one issue. Education is the new oil.
Africa is underperforming, if you look at its GDP in relation to resources, and this is tied to failure to build human capital. By 2030, Africa will become the poorest in the world. Africa is not rising. To create an economic miracle like that of India, China, there is a commited relationship to education.
We should be worried: one-fifth of the global average in university admission.
Less than 25% have PhDs
Global competition—getting fiercer. Only about 15 universities are within the range
Education tuition—cost of education is yet to be found. What skills do the universities in relation their increased funds have produced?
Continental free trade has implications
The nexus between diaspora and higher education centers on politics―broken politics
Diaspora must contribute to governance, and politics.
Failure of politics and governance a problem.
Opening remarks by H.E. Sarah Agbor, professor of African and commonwealth literature, Commissioner for Human Resources Science and Technology, African Union Commission.
CIDO to work on making diaspora connections possible
A fifty-year plan. The Africa WE want by 2063, 70% would have been trained in universities in skills and technology/ provision of higher quality education in Africa/ an African dream to create an African citizen/
Continental strategy on education with 12 thematic clusters
Knowledge gap can be breached by the diaspora: to build capacity, science, technology, youth employment, entrepreneurship, quality and relevant education, institutional building.
Africa has the largest youth population in the world, and it can double by 2050.
H.E. Victor Harion, Commissioner for Economic Affairs, African Union Commission
He restates the role of the AU to reorient African education; link education to human resources, attain peace and strategies; those in the diaspora will contribute to development, skills, resources and money.
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