Building the capacity of institutions to improve African higher-ed outcomes
14-16 JUNE 2021
The 2021 Annual Convening is a 3-day activity-packed set of engagements that will bring together administrators, educators, development agencies and employers onto one platform.
It will feature a mix of hands-on workshops, plenaries, panels, and innovation sessions designed to spark interest and develop institutions’ capacity to nurture students for successful careers, build entrepreneurship ecosystems, and rethink strategies for inclusive and diverse campus environments.
Tracks
PARALLEL
Exploring successful HEI models for developing sustainable and efficient entrepreneurship ecosystems.
PARALLEL
Redefining career preparation in African higher-ed institutions. In Partnership with Kepler University, Rwanda.
SPECIAL FEATURE
The place of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Higher Education Institutional strategy.
Loading...
Parallel Track: Employability
Redefining effective career development systems in higher-ed institutions
The Employability Track brings together education and industry practitioners to share practical experiences and conduct focused deliberations on how students can be better guided and prepared for rewarding and dynamic career opportunities.
At the end of the sessions, participants will be able to;
- Identify successful synergies and gaps between the needs of the labor market and develop strategies to build career-ready competencies in students.
- Identify opportunities and processes to sustainably engage employers across Africa for the career development of students.
- Build practical tools and skills to leverage on alumni engagement to develop sustainable employment opportunities for students.
Parallel Track: Entrepreneurship
Exploring successful Higher Education Institutional (HEI) models for developing sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystems.
The Entrepreneurship track will explore successful initiatives, structures, and policies being adopted by HEIs to maximize the internal entrepreneurship ecosystem’s contribution to the larger ecosystem. The track will uncover strategic partnership models between HEIs and other players, including alumni, external agencies, and employers, and their inter-dependencies in developing entrepreneurship ecosystem on the continent. It will be organized in workshops with learning opportunities through storytelling and hands-on practice for participants to develop actionable next steps that can be implemented post-conference.
Read full concept note on this track.
Special Feature: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
Topic: The place of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in Higher Education Institutional strategy
This Special Feature will engage experts and executives to share evidence and cases to support the inclusion of DEI considerations in higher education institutional strategy. Sessions under this track will bring diversity, equity, and inclusion and its applicability to top-of-mind for institutional leaders.
The feature will answer these questions;
- Why should DEI be a fundamental consideration in developing a strategy for the African higher education institution? What is in it for the institution, the student(s), and the continent?
- What are the components of a full DEI agenda for an African higher institution? And how do regional and context differences impact this?
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Virtual
Virtual Coffee Hour: The Education Collaborative Mentorship Program
This event brings together key stakeholders of the Education Collaborative to engage with the three mentee institutions under the Collaborative: Palm Institute, African Development University (ADU), and Burkina Faso Institute of Technology (BIT).
*This is an invitation-only event.
Email Stephen at stephen.gyan@ashesi.edu.gh to request an invitation
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Virtual
Speaker Session: The place of higher education in the larger entrepreneurship ecosystem
Pre- convening event
Speaker: Dr. Sola, Adesola, Senior Lecturer & EDI Lead, Oxford Brookes Business School.
01:00 pm - 03:00 pm
Virtual
Masterclass: Higher education start-up tools: Foundations for sustainability
Facilitator: Patrick Awuah, President, Ashesi University
Topic: Higher education start-up tools: Foundations for sustainability
This exclusive session offers insights into strategic planning and innovative administrative models for higher-ed institutions on the African continent.
9:00 am – 11:00 am
Virtual
Opening Plenary: Collaboratively improving higher education outcomes in Africa
Main event
11:00 am – 11:30 am
Virtual
OnStage Session – Roundtable discussion 1: Improving teaching and learning – Research Collaborations
Onstage Session
Facilitators: Dr. Sena Agbodjah Agyepong, Head of Department of Business Administration, Ashesi University; Esther Aforley Laryea, Lecturer, Ashesi University
11:30 am – 12:45 pm
Virtual
Panel: Aligning the focus of education in higher education institutions to labor market needs (Part 1)
Employability Track
Panel: Bernard Conyers, Supply Chain Director, Ghana; Dr. Sakah Bernard Nsaidzedze, Founder, BigSteps, USA; Prof. Baylie Yishita; Vice-Chancellor, Kepler, Rwanda.
Moderator: Sylvia Kunkyebe, Transitions Lead, Mastercard Foundation.
11:30 am – 1:45 pm
Virtual
Presentation and discussion of Exemplar HEI Models
Entrepreneurship Track
This session explores four successful HEI models. These models will help participants identify programs and structures needed to improve the entrepreneurship ecosystem in their institutions.
12:50 pm – 1:20pm
Virtual
Breakout Discussions: Aligning the focus of education in higher education institutions to labor market needs (Part 2)
Employability Track
Panel: Bernard Conyers, Supply Chain Director, Ghana; Dr. Sakah Bernard Nsaidzedze, Founder, BigSteps, USA; Prof. Baylie Yishita; Vice-Chancellor, Kepler, Rwanda.
Moderator: Sylvia Kunkyebe, Transitions Lead, Mastercard Foundation.
01:30 pm – 02:30 pm
Virtual
Panel Plenary Discussion: Aligning the focus of education in higher education institutions to labor market needs (Part 3)
Employability Track
Panel: Bernard Conyers, Supply Chain Director, Ghana; Dr. Sakah Bernard Nsaidzedze, Founder, BigSteps, USA; Prof. Baylie Yishita; Vice-Chancellor, Kepler, Rwanda.
Moderator: Sylvia Kunkyebe, Transitions Lead, Mastercard Foundation.
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm
Virtual
Entrepreneurship Interdependency Factors & Institutional Assessment
Entrepreneurship Track
Facilitator: Yaw Adu-Gyamfi, CEO and Co-founder, Centre for Social Innovations (CSI)
02:45 pm – 03:15 pm
Virtual
OnStage Session – Roundtable discussion 2: Improving research collaborations in African business schools
Onstage Session
Facilitators: Dr. Sena Agbodjah Agyepong, Head of Department of Business Administration, Ashesi University; Esther Aforley Laryea, Lecturer, Ashesi University
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Virtual
Workshop: Maximizing employer engagement for sustainable HEIs’ career development services
Employability Track
Facilitators: Abigail Welbeck, Director of Career Service Department, Ashesi University; Mr. Karoli Kolokonyi, Director of Careers and Alumni Affairs, Kepler
10:00 am – 12: 00 pm
Virtual
Workshop – Entrepreneurship ecosystem: Ideation and institutional concept development
Entrepreneurship Track
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm
Virtual
OnStage Session: Using evidence to improve employability for young people in sub-Saharan Africa
Onstage Session
Facilitators: Dr. Jennifer N. Udeh, Head of Programmes and Partnership, Education sub-Saharan Africa (ESSA); Dr. Samuel Asare, Research Manager, ESSA
12:30 pm – 02:45 pm
Virtual
Workshop: Leveraging alumni relations for effective career development initiatives in HEIs
Employability Track
Facilitators: Dr. Davis Adrian Wayne, CEO, Bright Future Global Consulting and Education; Michael Quansah, Alumnus, Ashesi University
02:45 pm – 03:15 pm
Virtual
OnStage Session: Industry-Oriented Learning and Digital Tools for Enhancing Student Career Outcomes (in African Higher Education)
Onstage Session
Facilitator: Segun Ogunwale, Co-founder of Kominity Digital and Team Lead of Bridgia.
08:30 am – 10:00 am
Virtual
Maximizing employer engagement: Ashesi-ETH Zurich
Employability Case Study
Panel: Mr. Maxmilian Grau, Program Manager, Learning and Partnerships, ETH4D, ETH Zurich, Dr. Nathan Amanquah, Head of Engineering Department, Ashesi University; Dr. Marriette Mertens, Programme Manager, Learning and Partnerships, ETH4D, ETH Zurich
Moderator: Dr. Wilfred Elegba, Graduate Program Coordinator, Mechatronics Engineering Program, Ashesi University.
10:15 am - 12:15 pm
Virtual
Panel: Dimensions of diversity, equity and inclusion in higher-ed institutions
Special Feature
Panel: Dr. Solomon Mekonnen, Director of Scholars, Program, University of Gondar, Leonne Laura Uwizihiwe, DEI Manager, Kepler; Dinah Adiko, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Consultant.
Moderator: Dr. Desalegn Menagesha, Associate Professor; Regional Director, Global One Health Initiative, Ethiopia
12:30 pm – 02:15 pm
Virtual
Workshop: Institutional assessment on diversity, equity and inclusion
Special Feature
Facilitators: Marieke Broersma, CBR Professional, Light for the World; Melaku Tekle, Executive Director, Ethiopian Center for Disability and Development (ECDD)
02:30 pm – 03:15 pm
Virtual
Commitment Summit: Agenda setting
Main event
Topic: Agenda setting and ways of implementing insights from the Convening
Facilitators: Dr. George Mugabe, Director of Research & Community Service, Kepler; Rose Dodd, Director, The Education Collaborative, Ashesi University
Get our official event app,
Get the most out of the app and have a more productive experience!
1
NAVIGATE the event agenda and logistics, even without Wi-Fi or data. Access useful information like ridesharing and local attractions through the Community Board
2
NETWORK effectively. Plan whom to meet by exploring attendee profiles and sending out messages
3
PARTICIPATE in event activities through session likes, comments, ratings, live polling, tweeting, and more
What are past participants saying?
Got questions?
Send us an email.