Upcoming African Universities Week to focus on youth

The Association of African Universities (AAU) has called on all higher education institutions in Africa to join in and celebrate the 2018 African Universities Week from 12-16 November which is aimed at highlighting the achievements, challenges and opportunities of the sector and attracting increased support.

The theme for this year’s celebration is: “The Africa we want: The role of young people”. According to an AAU statement, the theme hopes to bring to the fore the critical role the youth need to play in influencing policy, legislative and social change; disrupting the status quo; and taking on a more active role in ensuring that we attain the “Africa we want” by 2065. The theme draws its inspiration from the overall vision for Africa based on the aspirations of African countries as articulated in the Agenda 2063, the statement said.

Secretary General of the AAU Professor Etienne Ehile said: ‘The future belongs to the youth; hence Africa’s youth bulge needs to be involved in creating the Africa we want, an Africa where each youth fulfils his or her potential. AU week presents the right platform to engage the youth in such critical discussions.”

The week is expected to be marked by topical seminars, debates, exhibitions, social media conversations, conferences, webinars and other interesting events.

In Ghana where the AAU secretariat is based, planned events include an essay competition among all AAU member universities on the AU week theme; a vice-chancellors’ forum focusing on the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (VC CESA Forum); AAU television studio discussions on topical issues; a road show to some institutions in Ghana; and a fair on African arts, culture and technology, among others.

The AAU has invited administrators at all universities to circulate information concerning the hosting of events to mark the AU Week to ministries of education, university councils, committees of vice-chancellors and all institutions involved in the management of higher education.

“Other public and private universities in each country which are non-members of the AAU, research institutions, the media and general public should also be invited to join the celebrations to give visibility to the week and promote the activities of higher education institutions in each country,” the statement notes.

More information about African Universities Week is available on the AAU website and on Twitter @aau_67. A special information pack has been put together to guide and support institutions as they plan their independent events on their campuses to mark this key week on the AAU’s calendar.