AAU-NARO Webinar:
“Towards Linked Africa Higher Education: windows of opportunities"
March 17th, 2021
AAU-NARO 2nd Anniversary Webinar
Concept note
Concept note
The Association of African Universities (AAU) is the apex organisation and forum for consultation, exchange of information and co-operation among institutions of Higher Education in Africa. Created in 1967 by the Heads of African Universities themselves, AAU is the voice of higher education in Africa. The Association aims to improve the quality of higher education, and to strengthen its contribution to Africa’s development by supporting the core functions of higher education institutions and facilitating critical reflection and consensus building on issues affecting higher education. It is headquartered in Accra, Ghana and has three regional offices – North African Regional Office (NARO) hosted by the Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt; Eastern African Regional Office (EARO) hosted by the University of Khartoum in Khartoum, Sudan; and North America Office (NAMO) in Washington DC, USA. The AAU is the technical implementing arm of the African Union Commission (AUC) in higher education and the coordinating agency of the Higher Education Cluster of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 16-25) of the AUC. It currently has a membership of over 400 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across Africa.
The North Africa regional office of the Association of African Universities (NARO) was inaugurated on March 12, 2019, under the generous patronage of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and His Eminence the Grand Imam, Prof. Ahmed El-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar AlSharif. Through NARO hosted by Al-Azhar University, a new era in African Higher Education cooperation is born. It was established in fulfilment of the (AAU)'s vision of being the leading entity supporting higher education in Africa, capable of supporting member institutions to meet national, continental and global needs.
NARO is not only a platform between North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa but also between North Africa and the Middle East and Asia as well. It aims to link the higher education institutions of North Africa with the rest of the regions and to strengthen the contribution of the AAU in their efforts to develop the African continent.
The Anniversary of the establishment of (NARO) celebrated annually by AAU North Africa regional office to commemorate the birth of the (NARO)on the 12th March 2019 in Cairo, Egypt and hosted by Al-Azhar university. The Anniversary of the establishment of (NARO) celebration brings together higher education stakeholders across North Africa to discuss contemporary issues pertinent to the improvement of the quality and relevance of higher education to the development of the African continent.
This year’s theme, ‘Enhancement of African Higher education integration (windows of opportunities)’ was chosen to stimulate dialogue on how African HEIs can enhance integration between African Higher education institutions. Also, they can discuss how universities can digitally transform their various educational and administrative processes. Besides, discussions about entrepreneurial universities and Internationalization.
The main objectives of the Anniversary of the establishment of (NARO) Celebrations are:
1. Promoting the entrepreneurship as the future of higher education and transforming African HEIs into entrepreneurial universities.
2. Contributing towards internationalization of African Higher Education institutions.
3. Discussion of the opportunities for integration between African Higher education institutions.
4. Discussions between African HEIs on varied issues.
5. Celebrating the success stories of Higher Education in North Africa in Digital transformation of the African higher education in COVID-19.
1. Increased understanding of the importance of transformation to entrepreneurial universities.
2. Integration between African HEIs.
3. Gaining knowledge and information by the participants on digital transformation.
The target participants include the following:
• Academic and administrative staff from HEIs.
• Students from HEIs.
• Research Institutions
• Business and corporate organizations
• Government Ministries
• Anyone else interested in the African Higher Education Sector
Program
Program
|
Time (GMT) |
Speakers |
Country |
Moderator |
|
1:00 – 1:10 PM, GMT |
Welcome Session |
||
|
Prof. Mohammad El-Mahrasawy President of Al-Azhar University President of steering committee of AAU North Africa Regional Office |
Egypt |
Prof. Amany El-Sharif Coordinator AAU North Africa Regional Office (AAU-NARO) |
|
|
Prof. Etienne Ehile Secretary General Association of African Universities – AAU |
Ghana |
||
|
1:10 – 1:50 PM, GMT |
Main Session: A glance on African Higher Education (5 -7 minutes for each speaker) |
||
|
A glance on Higher Education in Egypt Prof. M. El-Shinawi Advisor to ministry of H.E. and Scientific Research for international Cooperation and Agreements |
Egypt |
Chair Prof. Mervat El-Dib Member and General Coordinator of the Presidential Advisory Council of Scientists and Experts |
|
|
A glance on Higher education in Morocco Dr. Driss OUAOUICHA Minister Delegate in charge of H.E.in Morocco |
Morocco |
||
|
A glance on Higher Education in Mauritania Senior Advisor: Dr Mukhtar AlJeelany Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of Mauritania Ex HRD at the ministry of H.E. and Scientific Research Professor of Linguistics -University of Nouakchott |
Mauritania |
||
|
Quality of HE in Tunisia: Main orientations Post-Covid19 Prof. Najla BOUDEN-ROMDHANE Director General at the Cabinet of the Minister of H.E. and Scientific Research |
Tunisia |
||
|
Emergent Transfusion to Digital Learning in Eastern African Universities in the Context of COVID 19 Pandemic; General View” Prof. Faiza Osman University of Khartoum, Coordinator of AAU East Africa Regional Office |
Sudan |
||
|
1:50 – 2:00 PM, GMT |
Health Break With Virtual cruise in North Africa Countries |
||
|
Higher Education Institutions session |
|||
|
Sub-theme (1): Internationalization |
|||
|
2:00 – 2:10 PM, GMT |
Internationalization at Home: Fostering internationalization of Moroccan Universities. Dr. Aziza Menouni Program Manager Moulay Ismail University of Meknes |
Morocco |
Chair: Prof. M. El-Shinawi (Advisor to ministry of H.E. and Scientific Research for international Cooperation and Agreements (Vice President of Galala University) |
|
2:10 - 2:20 PM, GMT |
Internationalization at Pharos University in Alexandria Prof. Menatallah Gowayed Head of International Relations Department Pharos University, Egypt |
Egypt |
|
|
2:20 – 2:30 PM, GMT |
University Internationalization Prof. Hayat Gommaa post graduate programs coordinator. Department of nursing sciences. Faculty of allied health sciences College of medical sciences Ahmadu Bello university-Nigeria |
Nigeria |
|
|
2:30 – 2:40 PM, GMT |
Discussion |
||
|
Sub-theme (2): Entrepreneurial universities |
|||
|
2:40 – 2:50 PM, GMT |
Entrepreneurial Linkages in African Universities: Opportunities and Challenges Dr. Angela N. Abasilim Department of Business Administration, School of Management Technology Federal University of Technology - (Akure - Nigeria) |
Nigeria |
Chair: Prof. Pascal Doh Senior researcher, UTU, Focal Point, Finland – Africa platform for innovation |
|
2:50 – 3:00 PM, GMT |
Perspectives on How Engaged and Entrepreneurial universities will drive growth and shape the Technology-driven future until 2040; Al-Azhar University Model Prof. Mohamed Galal Advisor to the president of Al-Azhar University for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Technology Incubators Director of Entrepreneurship Club (Eclub), Al-Azhar university |
Egypt |
|
|
3:00 – 3:10 PM, GMT |
A Road Map to Transforming Universities into Entrepreneurial Universities Prof. Olalekan Busra Sakariyau Head of Department, Entrepreneurship and Business Studies, Federal University of Technology - Minna, Nigeria |
Nigeria |
|
|
3:10 - 3:20 PM, GMT |
Entrepreneurial Universities transformation Dr. HOURENATOU University of Ngaoundere, Innovation Centre of Excellence (UNICE) Deputy Mayor of the district municipality of Ngaoundere 3rd in Adamaoua Region, Cameroon |
Cameroon |
|
|
3:20 - 3:30 PM, GMT |
Discussion |
|
|
|
Sub-theme (3) : Digital transformation |
|||
|
3:30 – 3:40 PM, GMT, GMT |
Digital transformation in Algerian H.E. institutions: between the national and the local Prof. Mohamed MILIANI President of the Algerian Technical Committee for Education (UNESCO) University of ORAN2, Algeria |
Algeria |
Chair Prof. Amr Adly Former vice minister of H.E. and scientific research in Egypt, North Africa Regional office, AAU steering board member |
|
3:40 – 3:50 PM, GMT |
Digital transformation Prof. Mohamed Vadel Didah Vice President, University of Nouakchott |
Mauritania |
|
|
3:50 – 4:00 PM, GMT |
How Challenges can be Opportunities in Today’s Digital World Prof. Naima Abdirahman Director of Hodmas UC and acting University Vice Chancellor |
Somalia |
|
|
4:00 – 4:10 PM, GMT |
The Egyptian-Chinese University; A new vision for increasing mobility among H.E. institutes in Africa Prof. Ashraf Darwish Adviser, Egyptian-Chinese University in Cairo for International Cooperation |
Egypt |
|
|
4:10 – 4:20 PM, GMT |
Students Feedback on digitalized virtual education |
Africa |
|
|
4:20 – 4:30 PM, GMT |
Closing remarks
|
||
Welcome address Prof. Mohammad El-Mahrasawy, President of Al-Azhar University, and President of steering committee of AAU North Africa Regional Office
After conveying the greetings of Dr Ahmad El-Tayeb and welcoming guests, Dr Mahrasawy praised the efforts of NARO and AAU in improving higher education in Africa and highlighted the importance of supporting higher education institutions to carry out their role in providing higher education that promotes critical thinking. He acknowledged the role of NARO in promoting cooperation between Higher Education Institutions in Africa and creating new bridges for mutual cultural and cognitive exchange between North African countries and between Africa and the Middle East. He said that the webinar was a platform for all stakeholders to discuss all related issues to provide higher education that goes in line with the labour market and contribute to the development of Africa and exchange experiences in the fields of digital transformation, entrepreneurial universities and internationalization.
Address by the Secretary General —Professor Etienne Ehouan Ehile After congratulating NARO for its second anniversary as it was inaugurated two years ago in line with the centralization strategy of AAU adopted in 2018, Dr Ehile hoped that NARO would through partnerships improve the quality of higher education, enshrined in the continental education strategy and gave as example, the partnership between Egypt and Nigeria medical universities. He wished integrated prosperous Africa would be an internationally dynamic force as it possesses enough potentials like natural resources, lands, population, democracy, respect for human rights and quality of life, that obligate us to effect partnerships and cooperation to realise collective goals leaving no university isolated and work together to harness potentials in fields like medicine, agriculture, science and technology and provide places for all students in different countries. He assured that higher education is the bedrock for sound economy and being responsible for the future, we have to begin new pathways in the East, West, North, South and Central Africa between Africans and brothers and sisters in the Diaspora.
Main Session: A glance on African Higher Education
Professor Mervat El-Dib Chaired the main session “A glance on African Higher Education” In all, five speakers shared best practices on this important topic.
Prof. Mervat El-Dib - Dr. El-Dib is currently Professor Emeritus of Curriculum and Methods of Teaching (TEFL/TESL), Faculty of Education, Benha University. She is the General Coordinator and Member of the Presidential Senior Advisory Council of Scientists and Experts. Dr. El-Dib is a member of the Board of the National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Education (NAQAAE) and a member of the Educational Studies Sector Committee, Supreme Council of Universities. She has occupied several leadership positions in education reform projects. Dr. El-Dib Headed the Board of Trustees of the Nile International Secondary Education Unit, at the Education Development Fund, the Egyptian Cabinet. She was the Director of the Professional and Organizational Development Department in Egypt Education Reform Program (ERP) (EQUIP II), She was also the Teacher Professional Advisor in (ERP) and the New Schools Program (NSP) (EQUIP I), funded by USAID.
Speakers
Prof. M. El-Shinawi - Advisor to the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research for international Cooperation and Agreements, Vice President of Galala University, Board Member of the National Training Academy, Board Member of the Supreme council of International Branch Campuses Universities in Egypt, Adjunct Professor in Maryland University, Baltimore, USA, Elected Co-Chair of the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area Initiative “PRIMA Foundation, Barcelona, Spain”, Elected Board Member of the UFM Bureau for Research and Innovation, Board Member of Egypt-China STI Higher Committee, Board Member of the Knowledge Hub Board of Trustees. o Member in the U.S. – Egypt Science and Technology Joint Fund Board and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and Consultant of General Surgery in several hospitals in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Dr. Driss OUAOUICHA - He is the Minister Delegate in charge of Higher Education in Morocco. he is member of the National Economic, Social, and Environmental Council, member of the morocco-US Strategic Dialogue Commission, and member of the board of trustees of the National Agency for Evaluation and Quality Assurance of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
Senior Advisor: Dr Mukhtar AlJeelany - Dr. Aljeelany is the Cultural Attaché of the Embessy of Mauritania, Ex HRD at the ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Professor of Linguistics -University of Naokshot.
Prof. Najla BOUDEN-ROMDHANE – Professor at the National Engineering School of Tunis (ENIT) and at the Polytechnic School of Tunisia (EPT); she has capitalized 30 years of experience in tertiary education and scientific research, including 15 years within the Cabinet of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Tunisia during which she actively participated in the development and then in monitoring the implementation of strategies and policies for the reform of the sector.
Prof. Faiza Osman - Director of the Association of African Universities - East Africa Regional Office.
Session’s summary
Senior Advisor: Dr Mukhtar AlJeelany: A glance on Higher Education in Mauritania
Dr Maukhtar Al Jeelany gave a quick review on the higher education in Mauritania where priority was given by allocating 13.65% of the State Budget to the sector of education in the same time, the government works to improve higher education institutions and facilitate access to education to students in all regions of the country.
Prof. Najla: Quality of HE in Tunisia: Main orientations Post-Covid19
Dr Najla Rhomdane discussed the quality assurance of Higher Education in Tunisia through the three pillar system consisting of the Ministry of Higher Education, Public universities and Quality Assurance Agencies and main orientations post Covid19 mainly by promoting distant education, consolidating life skills of learners and boosting self-employment.
Higher Education Institutions session
Prof. M. El-Shinawi Chaired the session “Internationalization” In all, three speakers shared best practices on this important topic.
Brief Biodata of Speakers for Session “Internationalization”
Chair Prof. M. El-Shinawi - Advisor to the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research for international Cooperation and Agreements, Vice President of Galala University.Speakers
Dr. Aziza Menouni - Moulay Esmail University in Meknes, Morocco
Prof. Menatallah Gowayed - She is the head of international relations department at Pharos University in Alexandria, organizing and supervising all international activities and agreements at 11 Faculties. She is also the coordinator of the dual degree programs offered at Pharos University in Alexandria with Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), Ireland, and the Royal Institute of Technology, the KTH, in Sweden. Dr. Gowayed is also the Erasmus+ grants coordinator of the University
Prof. Hayat Gommaa – Dr. Hayat Gomma is a Full Professor at Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria. She is the Northern Nigerian ambassador to the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Care Foundation and a consultant for the USAID Integrative reproductive health services project. She is a committee member for the evaluation, review, and upgrading of teaching/learning materials for the course in Midwifery and Community Health, Technical Institute of Nursing, Cairo & Alexandria (World Health Organization); and a committee member for reviewing and upgrading the maternity, community, and paediatric nursing book for the Technical Secondary School of Nursing Book (JSI Project). She has trained as a specialist in Maternal and Child health for USAID.
Session’s summary
Dr. Aziza Menouni: Internationalization at Home: Fostering internationalization of Moroccan Universities
Dr Aziza Menouni discussed the aspects of internationalization at home and introducing intercultural dimensions regarding curricula, activities and capacity building projects through partnership with European, African and Arab countries.
Prof. Menatallah Gowayed: Internationalization at Pharos University in Alexandria
Prof. Bushra gave a quick account about internationalization at Pharos University then presented Dr Mennatallah Gawaed who gave more detailed presentation on the campus, centers, staff and students of Pharos University besides different partnerships the most important of which were with KTH in Sweden and TU DUBLIN in Ireland.
Prof. Hayat Gommaa: University Internationalization
Prof. Hayat Gomma delivered a speech on the difference between internationalization including its five components (partnership, promotion, research, support, and exchange) and globalization considering role of universities.
Sub-theme (2): Entrepreneurial universities
Brief Biodata of Speakers for Session “ Entrepreneurial universities ”
Chair
Prof. Pascal Doh - Dr. Pascal S. Doh is a Scholar of Higher Education (HE) Management and Governance resident in Finland. Dr. Doh has been involved for close to two decades in studies, teaching, research and consultancy in higher education management and policy issues, especially the entrepreneurial transformation of Universities. He also course teacher on the role of the entrepreneurial university in the national innovation system, in the Master of Research and Innovation in Education, Erasmus Mundus Programme of the European Commission at the University of Tampere, Finland. He is Lecturer to several African Universities: Cheikh Anta Diop, the Gambia, University of Yaounde 2 and Makerere University, Uganda. He has been focal point of the Finland-Africa Platform for Innovation, partnership of University of Turku, Finland and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, therefore the Director of the course "Building African Entrepreneurial Universities" by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
Speakers
Dr. Angela N. Abasilim - Dr. Angela Nneka Abasilim had her first degree in Marketing from the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.Her second degrees were Masters in Business Administration (MBA), Master of Philosophy (M.Phil), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D), all in Business Administration from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. She is a Management Consultant, and Fellow, Institute of Management Consultants, Nigeria. Presently, she is a Lecturer in the Department of Business Administration, School of Management Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
Prof. Mohamed Galal - Dr.-Ing. Mohamed Galal F. Aly is an Associate Professor and Vice dean at the Faculty of Engineering, Al-azhar University, Egypt. He is head of Al-Azhar University entrepreneurship club, a member, Board of Directors, Science Technology Innovation and incubators Valley, Director of Technology Innovation Commercialization Office (TICO) at Al-azhar University, Founder of RWAQ Technology Business Incubator at Al-Azhar University, Founder of Design House at Al-azhar university and Head of the Innovation and entrepreneurship and Incubators committee at the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT).
Prof. Olalekan Busra Sakariyau – Prof. O.B. Sakariyau in his mid 40s , a international scholar with focus in Entrepreneurship. Aside reaching and researching in the universities where he is tenured, he is also a season consultant to national and international organisations such as World Bank, GIZ and many others.
Dr. HOURENATOU - Dr HOURENATOU Phd in Organization Management, Speciality Entrepreneuship, Strategic watch and Economic Intelligence. Lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Management at the University of Ngaoundere in Cameroon. Coordinator of the University of Ngaoundere Innovation Center of Excellence (UNICE). Cameroon.
Session’s summary
Dr. Angela N. Abasilim: Entrepreneurial Linkages in African Universities: Opportunities and Challenges
Dr Anjela Abazilim lectured on the entrepreneurial linkages in African Universities, diverse opportunities in the horizons and different challenges to be overcome.
Prof. Mohamed Galal: Perspectives on How Engaged and Entrepreneurial universities will drive growth and shape the Technology-driven future until 2040; Al-Azhar University Model
Prof. Mohammad Galal spoke of the model of Al Azhar University of how entrepreneurial and engaged university can shape the technology driven future and promote growth.
Prof. Olalekan Busra Sakariyau: A Road Map to Transforming Universities into Entrepreneurial Universities
Dr Olalekan offered a road map of how to transform universities into entrepreneurial universities.
Dr. HOURENATOU: Entrepreneurial Universities transformation
Dr Hourenato discussed the importance of entrepreneurial universities, different definations, main approaches to conduct the transformation and current examples in Africa.
Sub-theme (3) : Digital transformation
Prof. Amr Adly Chaired the session “Digital transformation ” In all, four speakers shared best practices on this important topic.
Brief Biodata of Speakers for Session “ Digital transformation ”
Chair
Prof. Amr Adly - Former vice minister of H.E. and scientific research in Egypt,
North Africa Regional office, AAU steering board member. He worked as a consultant to the UNESCO Cairo office and as an expert to the EU Commission, established and directed the R&D Division of the Egyptian Industrial Modernization Center. He has been previously awarded the Egyptian State Encouragement Prize, the Shoman Foundation Arab Scientist Prize, the Egyptian State Excellence Prize, the 2016 University of Maryland ECE Dept. Distinguished Alumni Award, the 2016 Egyptian State Merit Prize in Engineering Sciences and the Presidential First Class Medal of Science and Arts. He has been promoted to the IEEE Fellow status in 2011 and is currently serving on the Editorial Board of IEEE Transactions on Magnetics.
Speakers
Prof. Mohamed MILIANI – Dr. Mohamed Miliani is Professor of English at the University of Oran 2. He is research project leader in university ethics at the Centre de Recherche en Anthropologie Sociale et Culturelle, CRASC; Vice-president of the National Evaluation Committee (MOHE); Member of the scientific committee (National Institute for Research in Education, MNE); President of the Algerian Technical Committee for Education (Unesco). Short-term project: introduce a cross-cutting module on professional ethics for future foreign languages teachers. He is a HERE (Higher Education Reform Expert, Erasmus + programme). Associate Fellow at Euro-Med Centre for Educational Research.
Prof. Mohamed Vadel Didah - Prof. Mohamed Vadel Didah is vice president of University of Nouakchott, Mauritania. He was the chair of higher education in the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific research in Mauritania.
Prof. Naima Abdirahman – Director of Hodmas UC and acting University Vice Chancellor
Prof. Ashraf Darwish- He has worked as associate professor and then professor of computer science at the mathematics and computer science department, faculty of science, Helwan University in Cairo. Currently, he is adjunct professor of computer science at ConTech University, CA, USA. Prior to this he was an assistant professor in the same department. From 2017 to 208 he worked as acting department chair. In 2014 he received the prestigious research distinguished award in computer science and information technology. From 2015 till now he is the vice chair of the scientific research group in Egypt (SRGE) in the field of computer science and information technology.
Session’s summary
Prof. Mohamed MILIANI: Digital transformation in Algerian H.E. institutions: between the national and the local
Prof. Mohammad Milani talked about digital transformation in Algerian Universities on the regional and local levels.
Prof. Mohamed Vadel Didah: Digital transformation
Prof. Mohammad Vadel Dedah discussed digital transformation in Mauritania.
Prof. Naima Abdirahman: How Challenges can be Opportunities in Today’s Digital World
Prof. Naima Abdelrahman discussed the possibility of overcoming challenges in the technological world of today and the multiple potentials it offers.
Prof. Ashraf Darwish: The Egyptian-Chinese University; A new vision for increasing mobility among H.E. institutes in Africa
Dr Ashraf Darwish presented the Egyptian- Chinese
University example of increasing mobility in Higher Education Institutions
in Africa.
Organizers
AAU-North Africa Regional Office Team
Collaborating Organizations with AAU-NARO
|
NO. |
Organization |
Country |
|
1 |
Al-Azhar University |
Egypt |
|
2 |
Presidential Advisory Council of Scientists and Experts |
Egypt |
|
3 |
Ministry of H.E. and Scientific Research |
Egypt |
|
4 |
Ministry of H.E.in Morocco |
Morocco |
|
5 |
The Embassy of Mauritania in Egypt |
Mauritania |
|
6 |
Ministry of H.E. and Scientific Research |
Tunisia |
|
7 |
AAU East Africa Regional Office |
Sudan |
|
8 |
Moulay Ismail University of Meknes |
Morocco |
|
9 |
Pharos University, Egypt |
Egypt |
|
10 |
Ahmadu Bello university-Nigeria |
Nigeria |
|
11 |
Federal University of Technology - (Akure - Nigeria) |
Nigeria |
|
12 |
Entrepreneurship Club (Eclub), Al-Azhar university |
Egypt |
|
13 |
Federal University of Technology - Minna, Nigeria |
Nigeria |
|
14 |
University of Ngaoundere |
Cameron |
|
15 |
University of ORAN2, Algeria |
Algeria |
|
16 |
University of Nouakchott |
Mauritania |
|
17 |
Hodmas UC University |
Somalia |
|
18 |
Egyptian-Chinese University in Cairo |
Egypt |
|
19 |
Finland – Africa platform for innovation, UTU |
Finland |
Speakers
