June 14-16, 2021 – Since 2017, through the annual convening, the Education Collaborative at Ashesi has brought together educators and leaders of higher educational institutions committed to transforming Africa through high-impact education.
Held online, the 2021 convening brought together some 300 participants from over 100 organisations and higher ed institutions across the globe. Jointly organized by Ashesi University, Kepler, Centre for Social Innovations Ghana, University of Gondar and Ayenit Alolom Africa, the three-day event featured plenary sessions, workshops and talks focused on entrepreneurship, employability, and diversity and inclusion within African higher educational institutions.
“As a network, our goal is to amplify the excellence and efforts of individual institutions and provide the platform for them to mentor and support peer institutions,” shared Rose Dodd, Director of Education Collaborative, in welcoming the participants. “This way, we support growing institutions to build excellence within their systems and structures so they can become exemplary in their outcomes.”
On the theme, “Building the capacity of institutions to improve African higher-ed outcomes,” the convening also brought to the fore key initiatives the Education Collaborative is driving to grow the network and amplify its impact.
Scaling up over the next decade
“In the last three or four years, we have been in pilot mode with the Education Collaborative,” shared Ashesi University President, Dr. Patrick Awuah, on the key milestones for the Education Collaborative over the next decade. “The next five years is our first attempt to scale up, and the challenge for all of us is to get significant traction and generate a lot of excitement and get a lot of momentum. Through this, we can get the increased support that all our institutions need to expand and deepen the work that we’re doing.”
Amplifying impact through Regional Hubs
The convening also allowed the Education Collaborative to formally announce its regional hub model as a channel to further amplify the work being done.
“We’re excited to get the East-African hub as the first hub the Collaborative is working through,” shared Dr. Alexander Awiti of Agha Khan University. “The task of [creating impactful change across the continent] is beyond the imaginings and capabilities of any one university; it will take the collective action of the entire continent.”
Commitment Summit
To help institutions implement insights by the convening into actual projects, the Education Collaborative announced an implementation grant at the convening.
“Besides the opportunity to network and develop projects together with other institutions, there may be the need for some funding to help kickstart initiatives started,” shared Rose Dodd. “This is really to provide support in terms of next steps. So we’re committing to provide grants connected to tools, techniques, and models shared through the convening.”
