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A Short Conference Diary

© eLearning Africa

Three conference days filled with action, excitement, passion, heated debate and even controversy – Christine Cayré, ICWE member of staff onsite at the venue in Dakar, shares her impressions, capturing both the atmosphere and voices at eLearning Africa 2009.

Wednesday, May 27th: A day dedicated to pre-conference events. From 08:00 onwards, the centre starts to become a hive of activity. Participants flock to the conference from all over. The most obvious thing in common among the participants at this stage: the name badges on blue key chains around their necks. At first, everybody is trying to get their bearings, but almost 40 students from Dakar and the ICWE team are there to help them find their way around. The sessions begin and, one by one, the participants start disappearing to attend their preferred talk. Some choose to take part in the Virtual African University eLearning day, others the UNESCO UNEVOC summit or another of the parallel workshops. During each break, the corridors come alive again and the networking begins. The corridors buzz with the hustle and bustle of informal discussions. Meanwhile, exhibitors put the finishing touches to their displays: one last poster here, a cable there and everything will be good and ready for the opening. Until well into the night, the team in charge of the event proceedings consider the different possible scenarios for the opening address and its consequent organisation. It is not certain yet if President Abdoulaye Wade, who is keen to be seen as one of the foremost advocates of technology for education in Africa and who strove hard in order that his country would host the 4th eLearning Africa conference, will actually be able to participate in the Opening Plenary session the following day. He may have to intervene in negotiations over Mauritania or attend to other urgent political matters. The eLearning Africa team will not know for definite until the last minute.

Thursday, May 28th: Opening ceremony – it’s now certain that the Senegalese President will be able to attend. The amphitheatre is packed to the rafters with ministers, officials, academics, researchers, professors and other representatives from the business world and civil society hailing from Africa, Europe and further afield. President Wade begins his address and takes a few people by surprise with an energetic, and at times almost controversial, speech. He claims that he is generally very critical of international conferences but is pleasantly surprised by the content and the standard of eLearning Africa and is delighted to see “so many powerful minds interested in eLearning”. According to him, there can be no sustainable development without education. “We are rich in human resources but they are wasted unless they are trained”, he declares. President Wade reaffirms the importance of ICT in education as a means of accelerating the learning process and also of opening the door to the best universities in the world for African students, without the need for a visa. “At a time when Europe is turning inwards, it is our duty to find a solution and eLearning is a part of it”, he reasserts. He also warns that, in terms of computer equipment, Africa should not become a dumping ground for Europe and America. The conference is officially under way. Throughout the course of the day, around 30 parallel discussion sessions take place – a multitude of topics and lectures covering the scope of areas in which ICT is used, such as health, education, integration of the handicapped and university research.

Friday, May 29th: Continuation of conference sessions and the closing debate. The conference is also a place where people can extend their networks, whether informally or during the Jokko sessions. Taken from the Wolof language, Jokko means “to create networks”. The sessions revolve around different themes and allow the participants to create synergy around points raised during the conference. The final session is a lively and impassioned debate. The conference hall is full once again. On the speaker’s platform, both parties exchange their opposing ideas: on one side, those who believe technology is the essential element and the motivating factor for development; and on the other, those who think that technology is only one tool among many that can be implemented in education. The aim of the session is to grapple with the question: Can technology alone raise the standards of education in Africa towards that of her international counterparts? The debate is chaired by the good-humoured duo of Harold Elletson and Khalil Guèye. The speakers present their ideas and the participants are allowed to interrupt at any time with counter-arguments. After a shy start, it is Nnenna Nwakanma, a development consultant advocate of the benefits of technology, who gets the ball rolling and encourages the participants to take the floor. A lively, even heated, discussion ensues. “Should pilot schemes that will never develop on a large scale be introduced here and there, regardless of the cost? Is it not preferable to seriously assess the needs of Africa and motivate governments so that comprehensive ICT policies can be put in place effectively, according to need?” asks Astrid Dufborg from the International Agency of Development and Cooperation. “No,” replies Nnenna Nwakanma. “The urgent matter is to give all Africans access to ICT. The potential of each person will be multiplied and we will reach the Millennium Development Goals.” There is so much passion in the debate and so many participants who want to express their views that it is difficult for the chairpersons to bring the session to a close. With an analysis of the big questions raised by the conference, the debate concludes three day’s worth of exchange and knowledge sharing.

Some comments from participants:

Oatunde Michael Oni, Nigeria
University Professor
I came to develop my contacts in the university world. I spent quite a bit of time in the exposition hall. There are so many stands that interest me!

Paul Coyne, UK
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Very well organised event with a diverse and interesting programme. The high-level endorsement of the event from senior decision makers means the event is good value for money for supporting existing commercial relationships and for evaluating new opportunities.

Maria Beatriz Teixeira, Belgium
Fromateix
I was pleasantly surprise by the enthusiasm, good-humour and the atmosphere in general during this conference. I’ll definitely be back! Thank you for your excellent organisation.

Marine Prado, France
Agency of Preventative Medicine
Last year, one of my colleagues came to the conference and liked it. This year we came to get to know each other better and to run a stand. We have made a lot of contacts.

Professor Mamady Lamine Traore, Guinea-Conakry
Nelson Mandela University
I came to collect ideas. I am looking to find out how students can be more involved in eLearning programmes, but I am also interested in environmental questions. It’s not my first time at eLearning Africa. For me, it’s the leading conference in the field.

Fatou Diaw, Senegal
President of the Organisation of African Business Women
I’m looking into the question of ICT and education. It’s important for development and especially for women. Online trade is a real need in rural areas, for example. However, local communities have to get more involved. It’s the first time that I am taking part in e-Learning Africa. Yes, it’s really good!

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