Higher Education Institutional leaders and their liaison from the East Africa regional hub gathered for a two day in person meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on the 4th and 5th of May 2023. The meeting outlined priorities for the region and evaluated the hub’s progress with a focus on delivering quality student outcomes and driving sustainable development.
Opening the meeting, the Hub Host and Chair of the Strategic Committee, Prof. Samuel Gudu said, “the assignment we have is to train graduates with a difference who will contribute to the development of the region and continent.” Moreover, he iterated on the significance of the discussion and its correlating impact in the transformation of Higher Education.
In her presentation, Lizzie Chongoti, the Regional Director outlined key milestones of the hub in the period April 2022 to April 2023. The EA Hub has made great strides over the period having developed and launch a Strategic plan for the region, hosted the inaugural regional convening, recruited personnel for the hub office and engaged 16 new institutions through visits towards growing the EA footprint and regional representation. She further highlighted 23 ongoing projects under post convening grants and the system Change program for Employability project being undertaken by East Africa institutions.
The Executive Director, Rose Dodd, in her remarks noted that 95% of the goals set out for phase one of the ten-year strategy of the Education Collaborative had been achieved. She said, “The first phase has been a great learning curve that has seen progress and results in setting up the administrative engine, prioritizing the individual verses the collective interests of institutions and growing the continent-wide footprint of the network.” Additionally, she noted the significant progress made in setting up of other hubs in West and Francophone Africa.
Ms. Rahel Boon- Dejene CEO of R&D Group in Ethiopia gave an address on Africa the Rising Star: Entrepreneurship and Education. Where she highlighted the entrepreneurship and employment landscape on the continent and how HEIs can better equip graduates with career readiness and entrepreneurial skills for the future of work. Members also interacted with institutional representatives from two Addis Ababa based HEIs; Addis Ababa Tegbareid Polytechnic College and Nefas Silk Polytechnic College on their ongoing collaboration with the Kepler Soft Skills Centre.
The meeting resolved to priorities Faculty Development and Research programs and initiatives as a driver for the other focal areas in Ethics and Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Career and Employability. Members also elected Prof. Baylie Yeshita Vice Chancellor Kepler College (Rwanda) as the new Chair while Prof. Daniel Mugendi Vice Chancellor University of Embu (Kenya) as Co-Chair to take up office in October 2023. Kepler College will also be inaugurated as the new regional hub host. Members also resolved to hold the 2nd Annual East Africa regional convening on the 5th and 6th of October 2023 in Kampala, Uganda.
In attendance were HEI leaders and executives from Rongo University, Kepler College, Cavendish University Uganda, Riara University, University of Embu, Davis College, Strathmore University, United States International University – Africa, Rwanda Polytechnic, Umma University, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT) and The Management University of Africa.
Learn more about the EA Hub and how institutions are engaging within the Education Collaborative network: https://bit.ly/EA_HUB
