INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

What: The Official Launch of the Pan African Virtual and E-University, under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic of Cameroon.

When: 20 December 2019
Time: 8:30 am – 2:30 pm
Where: Yaounde, Republic of Cameroon
Venue: Palais de Congres of Yaoundé.

Who: Organized by the Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology of the African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with the Government of Cameroon.

Objective: The launch is to promote and popularise the Pan African Virtual and e-University, discuss the potential challenges in its implementation and the contribution of the African University academic and Research landscape, as well as its opportunity in addressing the aspirations of African Unions Agenda 2063.

It will be organised under the high patronage of the president of the republic of Cameroon H.E. Paul Biya. Invited key speaker are expected to give insights on the state of ICT and Open, Distance and E-Learning in Africa and Cameroon.

Participants: The participants will include: the Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, on behalf of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission; duly invited Ministers of the Government of Cameroon and Senior official, representatives of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Ambassadors of African countries based in Cameroon, member institutions of the Pan African University represented by Vice Chancellors/Rectors, other institutional heads, higher education stakeholders, development partners, key service providers, continental and world agencies based in Cameroon, members of the PAVEU taskforce and expert panels, the private sector, civil society and policy makers.

Introduction and Background

The Pan African Virtual and E-University (PAVEU) is one of AU’s flagship projects that has been proposed for addressing the Agenda 2063 need for accelerating development of human capital, science and technology and innovation through increasing access to tertiary and continuing education in Africa by capitalizing on the digital revolution and global knowledge; reaching large numbers of students and professionals in multiple sites simultaneously- anywhere, anytime; and by consolidating African initiatives and strategies on accelerated development of human capital; science, technology and innovation.

The African Union has adopted its Agenda 2063, which is the continents collective vision and roadmap for the next 50 years. The Agenda 2063 envisages developing a world class human capital to drive Africa’s economic and technological transformation through universal access to quality education. From early childhood education to primary, secondary, technical, vocational and higher education, Africa is expected to witness a true renaissance, through investments made, as governments and the private sector in education, science, technology, research and innovation. In the Africa of 2063, at least 70% of all high school graduates will have access to tertiary education with 70% of them graduating in the sciences, technology and innovation programmes. With the high growth rate of Africa’s population and its relative youthfulness, the challenges of achieving the education and skills development goals of Agenda 2063 are immense.

The objectives regarding tertiary education through the PAVEU are as follows:
1. Increase access to quality tertiary and continuing education in Africa by reaching large numbers of students and professionals in multiple sites simultaneously and developing relevant and high quality Open Distance and e-learning (ODeL) resources;
2. Ensure the prospective African student a guaranteed access to the University from anywhere in the world and anytime (24 hours a day, 7 days a week), and countries of their choice;
3. Develop infrastructure, human and financial support systems to facilitate the effective use of ODeL in rural and disadvantaged urban areas;
4. Enhance the pedagogical and research capacity of African tertiary educational institutions;
5. Raise the global standing of the Pan African University as well as build and sustain partnerships with institutions that can support the AU Agenda 2063 mission; and
6. Promote development and delivery of responsive, demand-driven education programs.

The PAVEU project is being operationalized as the Open, Distance and E-Learning arm the Pan African University (PAU), a decision that was approved by the Specialized Technical Committee on Education, Science and Technology meeting that took place on 23-25 October 2017 in Cairo Egypt. And was endorsed by the Executive Council in January 2018 (Executive Council Decision EX.CL/Dec 987 (XXXII) Rev.1.

PAVEU is currently hosted at the Pan African University Rectorate Headquarters in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The PAU, which currently consists of four operational Institutes in four regions of Africa (Northern, Western, Central and Eastern), is an African Union Commission (AUC) initiative launched in December 2011, whose overall aim is the development of institutions for excellence in key areas of Science, Technology, Innovation, Humanities, Social Sciences and Governance, which would constitute the bedrock of an African pool of world class higher education and research. This would usher in a new generation of African leaders with capacity to optimally harness available human and material resources, imbued with a common vision of a peaceful, prosperous and integrated Africa.

Media contact:
Esther Azaa Tankou, Head of Information, Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission Tel: +251 911361185, E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org