International Symposium on The Role of Higher Education for Sustainable Development in Africa
Overview
Date: Thursday, 13 October, 2011
Time: 10:00-18:00
Location: U Thant Hall, UNU Headquarters
Organizers: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT), UNU-ISP
Supported by: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Japan
Contact: Yaeko Higo, UNU-ISP higo@unu.edu
As the world begins to approach the terminal years of two important international initiatives, the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2014), and the Millennium Development Goals (2015), Africa is receiving more and more attention because of the multitudinous and deep-rooted challenges it faces for achieving sustainable development. There is a consensus emerging that African countries need to build up their capacities to cope with these challenges and, for this purpose, their higher education institutions need to drastically improve their own educational programmes and associated research facilities for turning out future generations of professionals.
Since October 2008 the United Nations University Institute for Sustainability and Peace (UNU-ISP) has teamed up with a number of leading African universities to develop a postgraduate education program for sustainable development in Africa. This effort, supported by the Japanese Government, UNEP, UN-HABITAT and UNESCO, as well as selected Japanese and Northern European universities, has culminated in the formulation of three thematic programmes, respectively, on ‘integrated rural development,’ ‘sustainable urban development’ and ‘ management of mineral resources.’
This symposium aims at reporting and sharing the principal features of the programmes and discussing ways to help the African partner universities implement these programmes. Around 20 experts from African universities, including four Presidents, as well as leading personalities from universities in developed countries and international organizations will engage in an exchange of views on innovative ways to achieve sustainable development in Africa through higher education.
The conference is free and open to the public. Japanese/English interpretation will be provided.
Registration
Online registration is now closed. However, on-site registration will be available at the registration desk. Please bring a printout of your registration email confirmation or your photo ID. We look forward to welcoming you to this event.
Programme
| 10:00-10:20 | Welcome Remarks
Prof. Konrad Osterwalder, Rector, UNU Opening StatementMEXT representative |
| Keynote Speech | |
| 10:20-10:40 | Developing Professionals for Sustainable Development in Africa Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, Secretary, National Science and Technology Council, Kenya |
| 10:40-11:00 | Supporting Higher Education for Sustainable Development in Asia and Africa
Prof. Akihiko Tanaka, Vice President, International Affairs, University of Tokyo |
| Panel Discussion | |
| 11:00-12:30 | Role of Higher Education for Sustainable Development in Africa
Prof. Steven Simukanga, Vice Chancellor, University of Zambia |
| 12:30-14:00 | Lunch Reception |
| Panel Presentation | |
| 14:00-15:30 | Innovation in African Higher Education for Sustainable Development
Integrated Rural Development: Prof. Edwin Gyasi, University of Ghana |
| 15:30-16:00 | Break |
| Panel Session | |
| 16:00-17:50 | Supporting Higher Education for Sustainable Development
in Africa
Keynote Discussion Panelists: Mr. Tetsuo Suzuki, Director, Business Strategy Department, Planning division, Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation Dr. Gulelat Kebede, Chief, Training and Capacity Building Branch, Global Division, United Nations Human Settlements Programme Mr. Mahesh Pradhan, United Nations Environment Programme Dr. Agnes Soucat, Director, Human Development Deparatment, African Development Bank (TBC) Mr. Bjarne Garden, Deputy Director, Department for Global Health, Education and Research, NORAD Ambassador Gert Grobler, South African Embassy, Japan (TBC) Moderator: Prof. Takashi Mino, Senior Advisor and Supervisor, Graduate Program in Sustainability Science, University of Tokyo |
| 17:50-18:00 | Closing Remarks Dr. Elias Ayuk, Director, UNU-INRA |
UNU Seminar
On the following day, 14 October 2011, there will be a seminar held to further discuss the issues of this symposium. Kindly note that it will only be held in English and will be academic in nature. For more details, please visit: UNU Seminar on Higher Education for Sustainable Development in Africa.
