→Overall Theme 2023
“New Model Learning: Innovating to Become Sustainable, Self-Reliant, Equitable and Resilient”
Africa needs a new model for learning and development; a plan to point the path ahead to a future full of opportunity. It needs an agenda to turn the African Union's 2063 Vision into reality. And it needs a guide to show the contribution Africa can make to a more interconnected, humanitarian world. Too often in the past, education has been little more than an accessory to the international development agenda, rather than the means to build a prosperous, African future. Now, in a world in which change is constant, where Africa is set to become the fastest growing region on the planet with its youngest population, African countries have the chance to entrench sustainable and equitable development. Africa can become self-reliant and resilient, as never before. And it can show the world the way to new forms of partnership, cooperation and community. The future is Africa's but it depends on education and training. And on creating a new model for learning.
What must be done to build this new model? How can it be implemented across Africa? How can Africa give its people the education they need to become self-reliant and resilient? How can Africa's new model learning support the sustainable and equitable development that will underpin productivity, prosperity and peace? And how can it help Africa to lead the world to a new age of cooperation and global community?
Opening Plenary: Creating New African Learning
African economies are growing fast. With the development of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) there will soon be a Single African Market for goods and services. The opportunities are enormous. Welcome to the most exciting continent in the world! Success will not just happen, though. Africa's future prosperity will be built on education. Technology gives us the chance to spread the benefits of education across the continent. And it enables us to share African knowledge, experience and values with the world. But we need a new African model of learning to make Africans fit for the future, with the skills they need to compete and cooperate. Join us at eLearning Africa's opening plenary session for a look at the new model African learning of the future. Keynote speakers in the opening plenary session will include: H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General of the Francophonie, France Pierre Goudiaby Atepa, Chairman of Groupe Atepa & President, Senegalese Club of Investors, Senegal
Plenary: Making Learning Innovative, Inclusive and Accessible
New model African learning will be both innovative, accessible and inclusive. It will have to be. Innovation, inclusivityand accessibility are essential to bring about transformative change in Africa. And all are essential to each other. Inclusivity is a vital component of innovation. Innovation is what will drive greater inclusivity. And both depend crucially on accessibility. So, how can we use all three to reinforce education and create the new model learning Africa needs? Keynote speakers in this plenary session include: H.E. Professor Moussa Balde, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation of the Republic of Senegal Roger Clark, Director Connectivity and Education Technologies, ApplianSys, United Kingdom Mariam Nourya Koné, Africa’s Talking, Côte d’Ivoire
Digital Learning in Low-Tech Environments: Challenges and Solutions
In this session, participants will learn about the challenges and solutions for digital learning in low-tech environments. The speakers will present several initiatives, case studies and tools. For example the use of mixed-modality approaches to engage teachers and enhance their intrinsic motivation, even in times of crisis. The session will also cover how to improve the knowledge of digitally excluded individuals, particularly girls and women in remote areas, the use of technology in adult literacy programmes, and the benefits of open-source Learning Management Systems to make learning content available without the use of internet.
{DATA & LEARNING ANALYTICS: AI & ETHICS} Exploring the Potential and Ethics of AI in Education
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning are increasingly used in education to personalise learning, provide new teaching tools, and enhance assessment and evaluation. This session will discuss a variety of best practices in very different situations as well as their ethical considerations. For example how AI is used in sustainable mining in Sub-Saharan Africa, where students analyse open-source geodata to develop guidelines to prevent land conflicts and environmental degradation, and AI's potential in English language assessment. But also the digital ethics compass will be presented, a model which aims to provide lenses to all those involved in the educational context dealing with data analytics, systems automation and behavioural insights.
Empowering Teachers with Digital Innovations in Sub-Saharan Africa and Beyond
This session will present successful approaches to digital innovations in teacher development programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa. Case studies will be presented, such as a technology enhanced learning course in Uganda, a self-guided open course that enhances pedagogical skills and facilitates distance learning, and a blended teacher training programme in Rwanda utilising human centred design principles. Additionally, we will discuss training programmes that aim to equip teachers with skills to incorporate digital content into their classrooms, utilising best practices from Israel and other countries.
Successful Vocational Training Initiatives to Upskill Africa’s Youth
This session will showcase digital TVET programmes which have successfully helped disadvantaged young Africans to transition into internship, employment or entrepreneurship. Through career orientation, labour market skills development and job placement counselling, public-private partnerships overcame skills gaps in key sectors in countries including Kenya and Togo.
Data & Learning Analytics for Decision Making in Higher Education
In this session, we will explore the advancements, opportunities and challenges of the growing trend of datafication in higher education. Presentations will cover a range of topics, such as the use of big data to achieve high-quality, open access education, how Smart Learning can support adaptive learning, and the implementation of data-driven strategies to improve decision making. Join us to discover the potential of cloud computing, data-driven tools and Learning Analytics in enhancing educational access, personalised and adaptive learning, and the effectiveness of distance education.
African Youth and Digitisation: How Governments and Innovators Can Build Skills
As digital technology becomes increasingly important in the modern world, it's essential to consider how to actively contribute to the digital society instead of being a passive consumer or data point. For African youths to become active digital society members, they need digital infrastructure, literacy, citizenship, and an enabling environment for creativity and innovation. This roundtable will bring together policymakers, digital skill builders, and innovation hub managers to discuss African youths' digital skill-building needs. The discussion will focus on how to empower African youths to become active digital creators and innovators and the necessary policies and grassroots-level programmes to support this.
Transforming Africa's Education Landscape: The Role of African EdTech Start-ups
Homeborn EdTech start-ups are increasingly popular in the field of education in Africa and they are playing a vital role in transforming the continent's educational landscape. These SME’s are leveraging technology to enhance education quality and affordability, and improve access. During this Show & Tell, participants will be presented with pitches from various African education start-ups, as they share their innovative ideas and initiatives in a fast-paced and engaging manner. Among these startups is XaleyTech from Senegal who will showcase their computer programming and robotics programmes which teach coding to children. Additionally, the award-winning platform E-repetiteur.sn will be highlighted, demonstrating how their web, tablet, and mobile platform provides middle and high school students with continuous curriculum improvement, mixed assessment, and feedback approaches. Join this Show & Tell to gain inspiration and learn how these start-ups are driving innovation, improving access to education, and make a positive impact in Africa.
Learning and Development to boost Senegal’s Renewable Energy Sector
Through its its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) goals, Senegal aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 23% and increase renewable energy to 30% by 2030, and promote sustainable economic growth through the development of its renewable energy sector. This dedicated session offers valuable insights into the vital role of Learning and Development in the transition to renewable energy and cleaner gas-to-power. Experts from the fossil and renewable energy sectors will discuss the opportunities and challenges in finding the necessary human resources and the development of skills needed to support the energy transition, as well as the partnerships between educational institutions and energy actors that can foster innovation in the sector. Furthermore, the session will examine the technologies that Senegal can adopt to achieve its renewable energy goals and their potential impact on job creation and economic development.
How Digital Credentials are Transforming Learning and Recognition in the Workplace
Digital credentials and certifications are a form of verification that confirms an individual's knowledge, skills, and competencies in a particular subject or field. This session focuses on the benefits of digital credentials and certification in the workspace. We will explore various aspects of the theme, including using micro-credentials to improve quality pedagogical methods and learning outcomes, as well as the HPass, a collaborative initiative that is transforming how skills and experience are recognised in the humanitarian sector. The session also highlights how micro-credentials optimise business processes, eliminate costs, and streamline logistical procedures.
Enhancing Learning through Analytics: Real-world Examples of Personalised and Adaptive Learning
This session showcases how learning analytics can improve teaching methods and student outcomes. With real-world examples, panellists will demonstrate the power of data-driven personalised learning, such as the Green Shoots Maths Curriculum Online programme, which uses data to make decisions about cognitive and effective learning gains in maths. Participants will also learn about combining AI with low-tech delivery channels for personalised learning, and adaptive learning content pre-loaded onto tablets to monitor implementation quality in offline environments. Practical recommendations are given on integrating digital personalised learning into classrooms sustainably for equitable learning.
Innovative Ways to Upskill African Healthcare Workers
Digital technology has proved to be a real game changer for the professional development of African healthcare workers. Join this session to find out about innovative ways practitioners and volunteers have been accessing knowledge and acquiring new skills across the African content.
The Role and Competences of the Online School Teacher
This session will explore crucial aspects of teacher training and preparation in the digital age. Speakers will address subjects including the role of the online teacher, the competences teachers need for online synchronous teaching at schools and a study on the level of teacher preparation in implementing digital literacy programmes in childcare centres. Participants will gain a better understanding of the importance of computer training and digital literacy for teachers, creating and using digital content and virtual platforms, as well as the role governments and policy makers have in advancing innovative teaching and learning.
