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For Immediate Release
Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative Organises Partners' Conference in Accra, Ghana, Auhust 26-29, 2009
Contact:
Association of African Universities,
Dr. Pascal Hoba, Email: phoba@aau.org
Vera Doku, Email: vdoku@aau.org.
Tel: +233-21-761588/ 774495
Accra, August 26, 2009 -- Higher Education for Development (HED), with the support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID),) and in collaboration with the Africa-U.S Higher Education Initiative and the Association of African Universities, is holding the Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative Planning Grants Partners Conference under the theme, Reshaping Human and Institutional Capacity Building through Higher Education Partners. The conference will be held August 26-29, 2009 at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra, Ghana.
The conference will be attended by approximately 150 participants including representatives from higher education institutions in Africa and the United States, and directors of the 20 African and U.S. partnerships established through the Initiative. Other key participants will include, representatives of USAID from several sectors in Washington, DC and bilateral and regional missions in Africa, as well as interested foundations and private-sector organisations, multilateral and international agencies, and other stakeholders and potential funders.
The conference will provide a forum for the 20 partnerships to present their initial strategic plans for long-term collaboration and receive feedback from one another, as well as from stakeholders and donors interested in African higher education development. The partners are developing strategic plans that address national and regional development priorities throughout Sub-Saharan Africa using the grants awarded. This conference will allow partners to strengthen their plans and foster relationships with stakeholders for future support. “The participants of the conference are focused on sharing knowledge today to meet Africa’s higher education development needs. This conference is the beginning of what we hope will be the foundation of a long-term process of developing strategic higher education partnerships,” said HED Executive Director Tully Cornick. HED managed the Africa-U.S. Higher Education grants competition.
In the long term, the Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative envisions the establishment of 30 or more long-term partnerships between African and U.S. institutions focused on building the capacity to solve local, national and regional development problems. “The history of long-term reasonably-funded partnerships is one of success particularly when the host institution or country leads in defining the agenda. Moving forward, we must all work to ensure that future investments are targeted and focused on achieving significant and measurable impact,” said Peter McPherson, president of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, the founding and lead organization of the Initiative.
United States Agency for International Development
The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for nearly 50 years. For more information on USAID, visit www.USAID.gov . This conference is supported by USAID, which encourages sustainable development.
Higher Education for Development
Higher Education for Development (HED) works closely with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is founded by the nation’s six presidential higher education associations to support the involvement of higher education in development issues worldwide.
HED supports its mission primarily by managing innovative partnerships funded by USAID that link U.S. colleges or universities with institutions of higher learning in developing nations. HED also publishes a variety of reports that highlight international higher education partnership impacts.
HED’s leadership includes a governing board made up of the deputies of each of the six presidential higher education associations and an advisory board representing a broad cross-section of higher education leadership across the United States. HED is based in Washington, DC and has a program staff of experienced development specialists.
Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative
The Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative was established in July 2007 to advocate for increased U.S. engagement in African higher education capacity development, with the main purpose of increasing teaching, problem solving and administrative capacity in African institutions. The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) spearheaded the development of this Initiative and will continue to provide resources and leadership. The American Council on Education is providing important administrative and financial support. Also engaged in the undertaking are the American Association of Community Colleges, the Association of American Universities, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and Higher Education for Development. The Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa, and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa have also provided leadership and support from the beginning. The Association of African Universities is also giving this effort extensive support and advice. To date, USAID and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have provided financial support.
The Association of African Universities
The Association of African Universities (AAU) is an international non governmental organization set up in November 1967 by universities in Africa to promote cooperation among themselves and between them and the international academic community. With a current membership of 215 higher education and research institutions, drawn from all regions and language groups within the continent, the AAU is the voice of the African higher education community.
AAU’s mission is to raise the quality of higher education in Africa and strengthen its contribution to African development by fostering cooperation and collaboration among its member institutions: providing support to their core functions of teaching, learning, research and community engagement; and facilitating critical reflection on, and consensus-building around, issues affecting higher education and the development of Africa. |
Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative Partner's Conference 
Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative Partner's Conference
