As we approach the year’s end, it is time to revisit the stories that shaped 2024. From regional milestones to multinational convenings, this year has been a tapestry of compelling narratives that resonated with partners, institutions, and the entire Education Collaborative community. Join us as we reflect on the impactful moments that defined the past 12 months.
Accra Technical University Launches a Career and Skills Development Centre: A Milestone in Student Empowerment
Accra Technical University (ATU) has launched a Career and Skills Development Centre to provide students with job-ready and practical skills while also promoting a transformational educational experience beyond the classroom.
Established in collaboration with the AFOS Foundation for Entrepreneurial Development and the Education Collaborative, the centre is geared to serve as a hub for comprehensive career assistance, skills development, mentorship, and industry relationships.
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Building Employability Ecosystems: The Power of Mentorship in the Systems Change Program
Mentorship has been a key driver of success for the Systems Change Program in Employability (SCPE). Between 2020 and 2023, five mentors from four institutions in three countries supported the learning, development, and growth of peer career services leads in five higher-education institutions. Their collective efforts contributed to building up systems that support the career readiness of over 40,000 students. The SCPE, a mid-to-long-term systems transformation process, aims to fundamentally develop the components and structures of key systems that drive employability outcomes in higher education institutions.
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University of Ghana Business School Joins GVV-Africa Program to Strengthen Ethics-Based Curriculum
Representatives of the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), Ashesi University, and The Education Collaborative participated in a symposium to officially onboard UGBS to the Giving Voice to Values (GVV) Africa program.
In its second year, the GVV Africa program is a self-paced learning curriculum aimed at fostering ethical leadership across the African continent. As part of The Education Collaborative’s Ethics and Leadership focal area, the initiative provides tools and strategies for leaders and industry professionals to navigate the dynamics of values conflicts in the workplace.
Faculty and management of the University of Ghana Business School, a member of The Education Collaborative, signed up to take the GVV Africa program. Their goal is to further strengthen their knowledge and skills in ethics and to refresh their ethics-based curriculum for their students.
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Expanding Regional Cooperation: Education Collaborative Fosters Engagement with Southern African Universities
A delegation from the Education Collaborative visited institutions across Southern Africa, engaging leaders, administrators, students, and key stakeholders, as part of preliminary steps towards establishing a regional hub.
The institutions included Botho University, Botswana; Stellenbosch University, South Africa; Nelson Mandela University, South Africa; and North-West University, South Africa.
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Fostering Excellence in Higher Education: The Inaugural 2024 West Africa Hub Convening
March 14-15, 2024, Lagos, Nigeria – The inaugural 2024 West Africa Hub Convening welcomed 104 participants from 11 countries, representing 33 higher education institutions. Hosted by Pan-Atlantic University, Nigeria, and held in Lagos, Nigeria, the event centered on the theme “Building an Ecosystem of Excellence for Research, Leadership, and Graduate Employability.”
This platform provided a valuable space for university leaders, administrators, stakeholders, and executives in the West Africa region to connect and collaborate on driving progress in higher education.
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University of Ghana’s School of Education and Leadership Holds Inaugural Conference on Improving Education Policy and Practice
April 4 & 5, 2024, The Great Hall, University of Ghana – The School of Education and Leadership, in partnership with the Education Collaborative, held its inaugural biennial conference on improving education policy and practice.
Themed “Advancing Innovation for Improved Educational Policy and Practice: Prospects and Challenges,” the conference provided a platform for educators, industry professionals, and stakeholders to share experiences and research findings on key educational issues. Participants explored innovative strategies, the prospects and challenges of 21st-century education, and how technology can improve educational outcomes. The conference also focused on how educational institutions can recover from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Building Employable Graduates: A Collaborative Model for Soft Skills Development
Employer feedback over the years has prompted higher education leaders to introspect on their role in preparing graduates for the workforce. A common concern raised by industries is the lack of soft skills among graduates. In response, Kepler College, a private tertiary institution in Rwanda, has established the Kepler Soft Skills Center, focusing on communication, technology competency, and professionalism. The center aims to cultivate punctuality, timely task completion, professional writing, and integrity.
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Diving Deeper into Opportunities for Collaboration: University of Embu Forges a Path
In 2023, the University of Embu emerged as the best-performing public corporation in Kenya according to a government-issued performance contracting report. From a student population of 123 in 2013, the university has grown to over 11,000 students, garnering recognition as one of the most respected institutions in the country. Despite this success, the university leadership identified a key area for improvement: fostering ethical and entrepreneurial graduates.
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Management University of Africa Strengthens Ties with Ghanaian Institutions
A delegation from the Management University of Africa (MUA), based in Nairobi, Kenya, recently visited Ashesi University in Ghana, as part of a week-long tour that included other Ghanaian institutions including the University of Cape Coast, Accra Technical University, and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Comprising university leads, members of faculty, and students, the team, held engagements at Ashesi, touching on partnerships, ethics and leadership, and lessons from operating as an independent university.
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Bridging the Gap: The Critical Role of Skills in Youth Empowerment
World Youth Skills Day underscores the importance of empowering young people to shape their futures through employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship. Across Africa, where a burgeoning youth population, estimated to reach 2.5 billion people according to the United Nations, presents immense potential, fostering leadership and entrepreneurial skills is essential.
Since its inception in 2017, The Education Collaborative has been at the forefront of this effort, bringing together leading African institutions to create a collaborative ecosystem for skill development.
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Education Collaborative Partner Institutions Jointly Host Conference on Exploring the Application of Natural Law
Pan-Atlantic University, Nigeria and Strathmore University, Kenya jointly hosted the Institute of Humanities Conference , with support from The Education Collaborative. This three-day event welcomed leading scholars, professionals, human rights advocates, NGO representatives, and thought leaders to explore the application of natural law principles in addressing contemporary issues impacting human dignity.
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Collaborative Strategies for Resilient Learning Systems: East Africa Hub Convening Highlights Education for the 21st Century
The Education Collaborative’s third annual East Africa Hub Convening brought together 98 participants from 12 countries, representing 27 higher education institutions and 11 non-academic organizations. The two-day event focused on forging the future of African education under the theme “Africa’s Educational Renaissance: Collaborative Strategies for Resilient Learning Systems in the 21st Century.”
Now in its third year, the convening has become a cornerstone for regional collaboration, helping educators and stakeholders identify best practices for building sustainable learning systems tailored to Africa’s unique needs.
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Supported by the Career Fair Initiative, four institutions hold inaugural career fairs
In 2023, the Education Collaborative welcomed participants from nine institutions to its inaugural Career Strategy Workshop. This workshop was designed to address both broad and institution-specific challenges, offering hands-on exercises, mentorship sessions, and activities aimed at strengthening existing career development programs or launching new ones.
Among its initiatives, the Career Fair Initiative stands out as a key support service provided by the Collaborative. This initiative helps higher education institutions organize and host successful career fairs, build employer relationships, and connect students with potential job opportunities.
In this story, we spotlight four beneficiary institutions that successfully held their first career fairs, leveraging the insights and resources gained from the Career Strategy Workshop.
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Small Grants, Big Stories: Value-Driven Leadership Fellowship Program (VLF) for High School Students
The development of an African culture that upholds moral values and principles is intrinsically linked to the advancement of the continent’s economy and the overall well-being of its citizens. Educational institutions play a major role, as part of their mandates is to be able to impact learning and cultivate values through educational training programs. These same institutions, including higher education institutions, colleges, and schools, continue to face numerous challenges related to ethics and values. Vices such as plagiarism, substance abuse, dishonesty, theft, and sexual harassment significantly hinder students’ academic performance and personal growth.
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Expanding Footprint and Scaling Impact: West Africa Hub Engages Ivorian Institutions to Enhance Student Outcomes
In a significant move to expand its regional footprint in sub-Saharan Africa, the West Africa Hub of The Education Collaborative, in collaboration with the International University of Grand Bassam (IUGB), hosted a meeting with eight prominent institutions in Ivory Coast. The gathering took place at the International University of Grand Bassam and brought together key leaders, deans of students, provosts, and faculty members to discuss strategies for improving student outcomes in higher education within the country.
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Together, we have made strides in building resilient, collaborative, and impactful educational systems across Africa. Here’s to another year of growth, innovation, and progress!
