Events

Ministers emphasizes on the quality of teachers for the future African generation

Addis Ababa, 18 July 2013- The African Union Commission held the Pan African Conference on Teacher Development (PACTEDIII) at the ministerial level on, Wednesday 17 July 2013, at the AUC headquarters, in Addis Ababa. The one day ministerial session ended with an unanimous agreement on the necessity for innovative methods for the development of the African teacher. On behalf of the AUC, Dr. Beatrice Njenga, the Acting Director of the department of Human Resources, Science and Technology at the AUC moderated the session.

In his opening remarks, H. E. Dr. Martial De-Paul Ikounga, Commissioner for Human Resources Science and Technology (HRST), at the AUC called for a revision of traditional teaching programmes, emphasising that the Pan-African vision of 2063 is unachievable without qualified teachers. “The AUC is the best opportunity to make sure that such goals are achieved”, he said.

On her statement, read on her behalf by Dr. Macjohn Nwaobiala, Permanent Secretary, Nigerian Ministry of Education; H.E.Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, the Minister of Education for Nigeria and Chair of the Conference of Ministers of Education of the African Union (COMEDAF V), stressed the need to take bold steps in building adequate and motivated teaching workforces continentally. “We still have numerous constraints in the sector and should bear in mind the task of passing on our principles and visions to the upcoming African generation”, she added.
Several presentation were made on the topics of developing quality teacher education programmes towards the future Africa; partnership for implementation of the PACTED roadmap; and ensuring high level teaching faculty staff for Pan African University, among others.

During the day-long meeting, the ministers discussed and considered the report of the senior officials meeting, which has been held on 16 July 2013.

Ministers emphasizes on the quality of teachers for the future African generation

Addis Ababa, 18 July 2013- The African Union Commission held the Pan African Conference on Teacher Development (PACTEDIII) at the ministerial level on, Wednesday 17 July 2013, at the AUC headquarters, in Addis Ababa. The one day ministerial session ended with an unanimous agreement on the necessity for innovative methods for the development of the African teacher. On behalf of the AUC, Dr. Beatrice Njenga, the Acting Director of the department of Human Resources, Science and Technology at the AUC moderated the session.

In his opening remarks, H. E. Dr. Martial De-Paul Ikounga, Commissioner for Human Resources Science and Technology (HRST), at the AUC called for a revision of traditional teaching programmes, emphasising that the Pan-African vision of 2063 is unachievable without qualified teachers. “The AUC is the best opportunity to make sure that such goals are achieved”, he said.

On her statement, read on her behalf by Dr. Macjohn Nwaobiala, Permanent Secretary, Nigerian Ministry of Education; H.E.Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, the Minister of Education for Nigeria and Chair of the Conference of Ministers of Education of the African Union (COMEDAF V), stressed the need to take bold steps in building adequate and motivated teaching workforces continentally. “We still have numerous constraints in the sector and should bear in mind the task of passing on our principles and visions to the upcoming African generation”, she added.
Several presentation were made on the topics of developing quality teacher education programmes towards the future Africa; partnership for implementation of the PACTED roadmap; and ensuring high level teaching faculty staff for Pan African University, among others.

During the day-long meeting, the ministers discussed and considered the report of the senior officials meeting, which has been held on 16 July 2013.

Addis Ababa, April 10, 2013- The African continent does not have any continental accreditation system of higher education, but several countries have their national accreditation systems in place.

This was said today at a workshop today, bringing together experts and practitioners in higher education quality and accreditation. The workshop aims to brainstorm and critically examine the technical, financial, and administrative issues with regard to the establishment of a Continental Accreditation Agency. The Director of the African Union’s Human Resources, Science and Technology Department (HRST), Dr. Abdul-Hakim Elwaer, in his opening statement underlined that, the establishment of a Continental Accreditation Agency is vital to guarantee high quality of education provision in the Pan African University (PAU) and to ensure its international recognition. He further noted that one major requirement for the PAU is ensuring excellence through internal quality assurance mechanisms and external accreditation.

The overall objectives of the brainstorming meeting are the followings:

a. To exchange experiences and views among participants on quality assurance and accreditation mechanisms in Africa;

b. To spot comparable practices that create basis for regional and continental harmonization in quality assurance practices;

c. To identify areas of collaboration between quality assurance and accreditation agencies towards harmonization at regional and continental levels; and to create basis for establishing a Continental Accreditation Agency;

d. To critically examine the technical, financial, and administrative issues with regard to Establishment of a Continental Accreditation Agency; and

e. To spell out the specific roles of African Quality Assurance Network (AfriQAN) in launching the Continental Accreditation Agency.

The creation of continent-wide accreditation body will strengthen cooperation in quality monitoring; development of compatible methodologies; harmonization of procedures; mutual recognition of academic qualifications; and facilitate the mobility of students and academics across the continent.

For the Editor:
Currently, there is no continental mechanism for accreditation. The AU Executive Council decision of January 2012 on the establishment of the Pan African University also requested the Commission to develop an African Accreditation Agency in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. As the PAU is a flagship project of the African Union Commission to revitalize higher education and research in Africa by nurturing quality and exemplifying excellence, the creation of such agency is paramount.

Winners of the 2012 Edition of the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Continental Scientific Awards

Addis Ababa 4 March 2013 - The 2012 edition of the continental awards dubbed “the African Union (AU) Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards program” was launched timely and the Jury met from 3- 7 December 2012 in Addis Ababa Ethiopia to select the winners. They considered some 58 prospective applications received from all over the continent and the Diaspora and identified two winners of the continental award.

They are:

On the Earth and Life Sciences Category, Prof. Michael John Wingfield: University Professor and Director of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute FABI, University of Pretoria South Africa.

On the Basic Sciences, Technology and innovation Category, Prof. Nabil A. Ibrahim: Professor of Textile Chemistry and Technology, National Research Center, Textile research Center, Egypt

These winners will be awarded their prizes during the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the African Union, which will take place from the 19th to the 27th of May 2013.
The Continental Scientific Award is opened to pioneer African scientists. Two awards, one from Life and Earth Sciences; and another from Basic Science, Technology and Innovation are given to outstanding African Scientists. Each winner walks away with a Cash Prize of US 100,000.
Meanwhile, the African Union expressed appreciation to the Jury for their diligence in identifying deserving recipients of this highly esteemed AU Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards.

The African Union (AU) Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards program is one of the several bold steps taken by the AU Commission to boost and popularise Science and Technology in Africa through empowering African scientists, celebrating their achievements and promoting all efforts to transform scientific research into economic growth. Greater investment and funding is needed to build Africa’s capacity and support research and development. If properly harnessed, this can tremendously contribute to poverty reduction, improved human well-being, good governance and economic development and our integration efforts on the continent.

The call for African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards is launched each year on the 9th of September, AU Day.

The program consists of awarding one-time monetary prizes to African scientists excelling in life and earth science and basic science, technology and innovation categories. The programme is organized at three levels in the continent: (1) National level for younger researchers, implemented by Member States; (2) Regional level for woman scientists only, implemented by the RECs and (3) Continental level.

For more information contact:
Dr. Mahama Ouedraogo
Head Science and Technology Division
AUC
Email:OuedraogoM@africa-union.org

Addis Ababa, 17th December 2012: In context of its commitment toward development of science, technology and innovation in Africa, the African Union Commission (AUC), honours the achievements of the African women scientists, through its "African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards", and signs grants for (11) research proposal in areas of science and technology. This was at a ceremony organized the Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology (HRST), on 17th December 2012, at the New Conference Complex, AU Headquarter, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,

In his opening remarks, H.E. Prof. Jean Pierre Ezin, AU Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, emphasised on the strong need for Africa to popularize science, technology and innovation among its citizens, empower them, celebrate their achievements and promote all efforts to transform scientific research into economic growth.

He appraised the 8th Partnership on Science, Information Society and Space of the EU-Africa strategic partnership, which achieved among others, the critical two projects: Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards and the Research Grants Project. He also commended the focusing of the awards, in its regional level, on the African women noting that "In Africa, women are seriously under-represented, in science, mathematics and engineering fields, and yet, they make up to more than 50% of our continent’s population".

Being a key contributor to socio-economic development, the Commissioner urged for increasing investment and funding for science and technology, adding that "We have to explore various possible and alternative sources of funding in order for us to approach research sustainably, particularly sustaining these two critical actions: The Scientific Awards and the Research Grant Programmes".

H.E. Ambassador Gary Quince, Head of Delegation of European Union to African Union said that "we are very pleased to be able to work with the African Union Commission on the AU Research Grants Program", which focuses on science and technology as a catalyst for sustainable development and aims to build up a network of intra-Africa and international research cooperation. He hopes that the grants are first step in what will become an African R&D Continental Programme.
The EU Ambassador recalled that AU Research Grants Program signed in March 2012, the first set of nine research programmes. "This time we are able to support 11 research programmes in the areas of i) Post-Harvest and Agriculture, ii) Renewable and Sustainable Energy, and iv) Water and Sanitation for a total amount of €7M." He added.

Dr. Abdul-Hakim Elwaer, HRST Director said in his opening remarks the Research Grants Project was formulated as one of the lighthouse projects identified among the early deliverables in Partnership No.8 of the EU-Africa Joint Strategy and its Action Plan. He added that the Commission has undertaken a very rigorous assessment exercise to select the 11 beneficiaries of the research grants from all over the continent.

The 2012 edition of the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards recognized the successful women laureates from the Northern, Western and Central Regions implemented respectively by ASRT, ECOWAS and ECCAS:-
1- Central Regional Laureate for Life and Earth Sciences Section :
Prof. Francine Ntoumi, chair and Head of Research of the Congolese foundation for Medical Research , Research Group leader, Institute for Tropical Medicine, University of Tubingen (Germany).
2- Western Region Laureate for Life and Earth Science Sector
Prof. Matilda Steiner-Asiedu Abakai, Associate Professor in Nutrition and head of Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana.
3-Northern Regional Laureates for Life and Earth Science Sector
Prof.Dr. NAzek Abdellatif Elguidi, Head of the Department of Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University.

4-Northern Region Laureate for Basic Science, Technology and Innovation Sector
Prof.Nadia Kandile, Professor of Applied Organic chemistry, Chemistry Department Faculty of Women AIN Shams University, Cairo.

It is worth noting that In January 2007, the African Union Heads of State and Government declared 2007 as the launching year for building constituencies and champions for science, technology and innovation in Africa”. In response to this political momentum and commitment, the African Union Commission launched the prestigious Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards Programme that runs with a core budget of USD1.1 million with main goal to popularize science and technology among African citizens. It honours the achievements of young researchers at the national level, women scientists at the regional level and pioneer scientists at the continental level

African Union Research Grant is designed to mobilize African scientific excellence and to promote both intra-Africa and international collaboration in scientific research in priority areas articulated in the Africa’s Consolidated Plan of Action for Science and Technology. The programme innovatively brings together African researchers to form supranational networks and scientific research consortia. The programme has a total budget of 14.7 million Euro, through the Financing Agreement of the 10th EDF Intra-ACP Envelop.