Post on 20-Aug-2015
Harnessing Innova-on for wider Educa-onal Integra-on
EGK13, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
By: Oforiwa MacCarthy, CEO Africa New Media
The African Diaspora is broadly defined by the African Union Commission as "peoples of African origin living outside the con5nent, irrespec5ve of their ci5zenship and na5onality and who are willing to contribute to the development of the con5nent and the building of the African Union.” • North America: 39 million from • La-n America: 113 million • Caribbean: 13.6 million • Europe: 3.5 million
The ques(on is: How do we resonate Africa in them, to inspire them to return home? And furthermore, u-lize their ideas in educa-ng Africa?
Africa needs home grown talent who understands applying the spirit of innova-on in educa-on. Considering how technology has become our everyday part of life, it’s about -me we integrate and enforce it in our educa-onal system.
“Marriage can wait, Educa-on cannot” Khaled Hosseini, A Thousand Splendid Suns For the African Con-nent to liX itself from ‘developing’ to ‘developed, the human resources and workforce needs to be educated. “Innova-on dis-nguishes between a leader and a follower” Steve Jobs For our educated genera-on to be leaders, they must understand and harness Innova-on
How can innova-on be harnessed for higher educa-on? Already, Africans are u-lising innova-ve technologies to communicate in overcoming the rigid boarders on the Con-nent. Provides great poten-al in duplica-ng this innova-on to educa-on across the con-nent.
• Technology provides opportuni-es to enhance learning and new ways of engaging and communica-ng with learners.
• The 'innova-on impera-ve' is as valid for higher educa-on as for other areas and while it is perhaps s-ll less visible in the higher educa-on sector there is a clear benefit of addressing its poten-al impact for growth, inclusion and compe--veness.
A dismal sta-s-c states that only 5% of young people in Africa today a]end college. These are the 5%, by defini-on are deemed to be the leaders of Africa in the next 20 years or 30 years. Yet these 5% are not being equipped with innova-on in Educa-on