Innovating Education in Africa 2023 (A Policy Dialogue, Exhibition, and Campaign for a Digital Future)

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November 14, 2023 to November 15, 2023

MEDIA ADVISORY

INNOVATING EDUCATION IN AFRICA 2023

Theme: “Africa and the Digital Transformation Opportunity: Innovating for the Transformation of Education on the Continent”

What: Innovating Education in Africa 2023 (A Policy Dialogue, Exhibition, and Campaign for a Digital Future)

When: 14-15 November 2023, 8:00 to 17:00 East African Time/ GMT+3

Where: AUC, Small Conference room 4

Who: The Department of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (ESTI)

Why: The aim of this event is to establish a multifaceted platform for sharing experiences regarding innovative solutions that address education challenges in Africa and to enhance the visibility of these practices for potential support, scaling up, replication, or further development by AU Member States.

Background Information:

Digital transformation is a pivotal driver of innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability in Africa. This transformation, characterized by digitalization and innovation, is reshaping socio-economic systems by generating employment, reducing poverty and inequality, enhancing the delivery of goods and services, advancing education and skills development, and aligning with Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals. Africa's youthful population presents a substantial opportunity in the digital age, prioritizing digitally enabled socio-economic growth. To harness this potential, there is a pressing need to innovate education development, provision, and delivery, capitalizing on the digital revolution. The Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA) underscores that ICT is a crucial tool for ensuring universal access, improving the quality of education, empowering graduates for meaningful lives, and contributing to socio-economic development. ICT offers avenues for innovation, entrepreneurship, and employability, adaptable teaching methods, overcoming limitations of time and space, and boosting the confidence and dignity of graduates across all levels. 2 Innovation in education is central to CESA's implementation, as education access must remain adaptable to rapidly evolving societal changes. Remarkable innovations on both small and large scales have emerged, driven by necessity and socio-economic challenges. Successful use of e-learning platforms, from mobile phones to sophisticated computers, is dismantling traditional barriers and expanding educational opportunities, even for those previously unable to afford schooling, individuals with disabilities, young mothers, and second chance learners. Strategies include social innovations and support for disadvantaged individuals, broadening religious school curricula to impart functional literacy and numeracy skills, and various interventions to enhance learning convenience. Considering these developments, the African Union Commission (AUC) will host the Innovating Education in Africa Expo 2023. This event will showcase technical and social innovations across all aspects of education and training. Since its inception in 2018, the Expo has gained momentum, establishing itself as the leading Pan-African event dedicated to promoting the adoption of educational innovations on the continent.

Objectives:

The specific objectives are as follows:

Facilitate the exchange of experiences, policies, and challenges among education practitioners, policymakers, the business sector, and partners in order to improve access to education through the adoption of homegrown innovative solutions in Africa.
Increase awareness of Digital Transformation Strategies, including the AU Digital Education Strategy.
Identify, profile, and showcase innovative education solutions from across the continent, with the potential for support, further development, or replication.
Develop a framework for crafting strategies to foster innovation in education.
Advocate for education innovation and bolster support for continental collaboration in innovation and adaptation.

Expected Outcomes:

A follow-up mechanism has been developed to pilot the Innovations that are identified through this event in AU Member States, using existing public education systems and infrastructure. The following outcomes are therefore expected.

Education best practices adopted and replicated in AU Member States.
Innovators equipped with the right knowledge and technical support to build more robust, sustainable, and effective business/social models.