Cairo, Egypt 21 October 2017 – The African Union (AU) convened its Second Ordinary Session for the Specialized Technical Committee on Education, Science and Technology (STC-EST-2), today, Saturday, 21 October 2017 in Cairo, Egypt in a bid to deliberate the status of on-going programmes and the performance of RECs and Member States in education, science and technology sectors.

Opening the Experts Sessions, Dr. Mahama Ouedraogo, Ag. Director Human Resources, Science and Technology of the AU, highlighted that the citizens of the African Continent expect more commitment, exceptional collaboration, funding, ground-breaking drives, much action and less rhetoric and concrete measures in arriving at the Africa we want by 2063. He noted: “Our aspiration is to catalyze an Education and Skills revolution and actively promote science, technology, research and innovation, with the ultimate aim of building knowledge, human resources, capabilities and skills for Africa’s future.” He also called upon all stakeholders and partners to forge together a common road map to fast track jointly agreed programmes to meet the needs of society.

Prof. Dr. Essam Khamis Ibrahim, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Arab Republic of Egypt in his welcoming note highlighted that STC-EST is instrumental in linking Education to Research and Innovation. He noted: “it is time to develop and renew the partnership among Member States of the AU in the field of research and innovation based on what we now have for basic research infrastructure foundation, as well as legislative reform. Our cooperation in research and innovation is the best model of scientific diplomacy.”

The Experts Session was chaired by Prof. Hany A. El-Shemy, Dean of the faculty of Agriculture of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

During the two days meeting Experts will consider the Draft Statute for the AU International Centre for Girls and Women’s Education in Africa (AU- CIEFFA), deliberate on Pan African Virtual University, African Space Agency and will discuss various Education and Science & Technology topics in parallel sessions. At the end of the two days deliberation, the Experts Meeting will make recommendations to the Ministers for consideration and adoption. The Ministerial Session will be held on 23 October 2017. .

The STC-EST-2 is jointly organized by African Union, Department of Human Resources, Science & Technology and the Arab Republic of Egypt, in particular Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The meeting brought together Experts in the field of Education, Science and Technology, representatives from the Regional Economic Communities, representatives from the National Commissions and key development partners.

The AU Agenda 2063 recognizes Science and Technology and Innovation (STI) as – multi-functional tools and enablers for achieving continental development goals. The agenda further emphasizes that Africa’s sustained growth, competiveness and economic transformation requires sustained investment in new technologies and continuous innovation in areas such as agriculture, clean energy, education and health. This will be realized through accelerating Africa’s transition to an innovation led knowledge based economy by STISA-2024 which is designed to meet the knowledge technology and innovation demands in various AU economic and social sector development frameworks. In light of this, we are reminded of President Kwame Nkrumah’s, First speech at the Foundation Summit of the Organization of African Unity in Addis Ababa on 24 May 1963, “…It is within the possibility of science and technology to make even the Sahara bloom into a vast field with verdant vegetation for agricultural and industrial developments”.

For further information, please visit:

https://au.int/en/newsevents/20171021/second-ordinary-session-specialize...

For additional information on the STC-EST-2, please contact:

Dr. Gilles Ogandaga Ndiaye; Senior Academic and Student Affairs Officer, Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology, AU Commission; E-mail: OgandagaG@africa-union.org

Media enquiries:

Mrs. Rahel Akalewold, Directorate of Information and Communication, AU Commission; E-mail: rahela@africa-union.org

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org I Website: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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