Pan-African Symposium on Digital Learning in Global Africa

UNICEF-South-Africa-2020-Prinsloo — Photo Credit: UNICEF South Africa/2020/Prinsloo

Monday & Tuesday, November 8 & 9, 2021 | Virtual International Symposium

The Howard University Department of African Studies hosted a virtual Pan-African Symposium on “Digital Learning in Global Africa during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic”. It organizes the Symposium in collaboration with the College of Arts & Sciences; the Graduate School; the Department of World Languages and Cultures; the Department of Strategic, Legal and Management Communication; The Center for African Studies; the Center for Women, Gender, & Global Leadership; the Thabo Mbeki School of Public & International Affairs at the University of South Africa; and the Bowie State University Department of History & Government.

The purpose of the Symposium is to enable scholars, researchers, Higher Education Executives, and policy experts from the African continent and the Global African Diaspora (GAD) to critically reflect on the challenges and opportunities that the COVID-19 pandemic has created for higher learning and research in Africa, the Caribbean, and the African American community. It is also to enable the participants to explore innovative ways in which institutions in these Global African regions can collaboratively utilize digital technology and improve teaching, learning, and research. The ultimate desired outcome is the establishment of a Pan-African Digital Consortium (PADC) between Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), African and Caribbean Universities.

DAY 1 VIDEO RECORDING

DAY 2 VIDEO RECORDING

* Please note that all times are listed in Eastern Time (US).

Monday, November 8

8:00 - 8:10 am ET	Welcome Remarks by Prof. Anthony K. Wutoh, Provost and Chief Academic Officer of Howard University
8:15 - 8:20 am ET	Introduction of Distinguished Guests & Program by Prof. Mohamed Camara, Chair of the Department of African Studies, Howard University
8:25 - 8:45 am ET	Keynote Speaker Address: H.E. Hilda Suka-Mafudze, Ambassador of the African Union to the United States
9:00 - 10:30 am ET	PANEL ONE: Policy Considerations and Digital Learning Honest Prosper Ngowi, Mzumbe University, Tanzania Olayinka Oluwakemi Adeniyi, Strathmore University, Kenya Gia Cromer, GNAN Education Consultancy Group, USA Papa Owusu-Kwarteng, Ohio University
10:35 am - 12:05 pm ET	PANEL TWO: Innovative Approaches to Digital Learning in Africa Daphine Kabagambe Agaba, University of South Africa Angelina Arrington, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Thierry Lienou, Howard University Mikayla Rai, Howard University
12:05 - 12:20 pm ET	Break
12:20 - 1:50 pm ET	PANEL THREE: Language Learning and Inclusivity in Virtual Education Patrick Oyinda, University of Nairobi, Kenya Issaya Lupogo, Mzumbe University, Tanzania Anne Jebet, University of Virginia
1:55 - 3:25 pm ET	Executive Roundtable Prof. Anthony K. Wutoh, Provost & Chief Academic Officer, Howard University (Chair) Prof. Barron Harvey, Associate Provost of Academic Innovation & Strategic Initiatives, Howard University Dr. Melanie Carter, Associate Provost and Director, Center for HBCU Research, Leadership, and Policy, Howard University Prof. Rubin Patterson, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, Howard University Prof. Dana Williams, Dean of the Graduate School, Howard University Ms. Tonija Navas, Director of the Ralph Bunche International Affairs Center, Howard University Prof. Sibusiso Vilnkomo, Director of the Thabo Mbeki School of Public and International Affairs, University of South Africa Dr. Mathias Nduwingoma, Director of the Center for Open Distance and e-Learning (CODeL), University of Rwanda Moderator: Prof. James Davis, Associate Dean of Academic & Student Affairs and the Humanities, College of Arts & Sciences, Howard University
3:25 - 4:55 pm ET	PANEL FOUR: The Gendered Dimensions of Covid-19 and Higher Education Jarpa Dawuni, Howard University Maame Efua Addadzi-Koom, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Ghana Anita Plummer, Howard University Patricia Isabirye, University of Johannesburg, South Africa Mary-Anne Isabirye, Uganda Management Institute, Kampala Uganda Sherri McFarland, Ahfad University for Women, Sudan

Tuesday, November 9

9:00 - 9:15 am ET	Welcome Remarks and Introduction of Distinguished Guests by Prof. Mohamed Camara, Chair of the Department of African Studies, Howard University
9:15 - 10:45 am ET	Ambassadors Distinguished Panel Ambassador Elsie Kanza – United Republic of Tanzania Ambassador Lazarus O. Amayo – Republic of Kenya Ambassador Kerfalla Yansané – Republic of Guinea Mr. Ousman Fisco Njie representing Ambassador Dawda Docka Fadera – Republic of The Gambia Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana – Republic of Rwanda Deputy Chief of Mission, Ms. Yoliswa Mvebe, representing Ambassador Nomaindiya Cathleen Mfeketo – Republic of South Africa Moderator: Prof. Kehbuma Langmia, Chair of the Department of Strategic, Legal and Management Communication, Howard University
10:50 am - 12:20 pm ET	Carnegie Foundation Distinguished Panel: Digital Learning in African Doctoral Training Networks: Adaptation to the Pandemic, or a New Normal? Ms. Andrea Johnson, Carnegie Corporation’s International Program Dr. Florah Karimi, Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa Dr. Beatrice Muganda, Partnership for African Social and Governance Research Dr. Nicola Pallitt, Rhodes University Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning Moderator: Ms. Andrea Johnson, Carnegie Corporation’s International Program
12:20 - 1:00 pm ET	Break
1:00 - 2:30 pm ET	PANEL FIVE: Impacts of COVID-19 on Higher Learning in Africa and the Global African Diaspora Abdoul Alpha Dia, Université Virtuelle du Sénégal, Senegal Yankhoba Seydi, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Senegal Khedidja Sergui, École Normale Supérieure des Lettres et Sciences Humaines, Algeria
2:30 - 4:00 pm ET	Howard University Graduate Student Roundtable Abdel Mouncharou, Department of African Studies Andreya Davis, Department of African Studies Da’Vonte Lyons, Department of African Studies Rosa Armstrong, Department of African Studies Zirra Banu, Department of African Studies Jean-Claude Abeck, Department of African Studies Rene Odanga, Department of African Studies
4:00 - 4:10 pm ET	Closing Remarks by Prof. Mohamed Camara, Chair of the Department of African Studies, Howard University

It has been established that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted Africans and peoples of African descent in critical areas such as healthcare, food security, and education. The pandemic has exacerbated the disadvantages that many of these communities already faced in terms of access to decent economic, financial, infrastructural, and technological resources and, by the same token, made teaching and learning more exacting for both teachers and students.

On the other hand, HBCUs in the United States, universities in the Caribbean, predominantly Black institutions in Central and South America, and some African universities, have devised effective teaching and learning means and methods that can be further developed into potent resources within a global Pan-African system of higher learning. Universities in Africa and the GAD can and should create transnational networks of integrated digital platforms, digitize library and archival resources, and train educators and researchers in the professional use of the integrated platforms for teaching and research. This, in turn, will effectively prepare faculty to master the techniques of digital education and research. It will also enable the participating institutions to collaboratively discover and create knowledge, integrate contemporary learning managements systems (LMS), and efficiently educate current and future generations of students.

The ultimate desired outcome of the symposium is the establishment of a Pan-African Digital Consortium (PADC) through the implementation of the steps outlined above. The PADC is envisioned to consist of Howard University and several other HBCUs, and several African and Caribbean universities. It is recommended that the Symposium include a roundtable of Higher Education Executives that will lay the conceptual foundation of the Pan-African Digital Consortium and articulate the short-, medium-, and long-term phases of its implementation.

Howard University Department of African Studies
Howard University Center for African Studies
Howard University Department of World Languages and Cultures
Howard University Department of Strategic, Legal and Management Communication
Howard University Center for Women and Gender Studies
State of the African Diaspora
Distance Education for Africa (DeAfrica)
Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs (TM-School) South Africa
Bowie State University Department of History & Government
Association of African Universities (AAU)
Pan African Heritage World (PAHW)

Paper Submissions are now closed.

The Symposium Organizing Committee has decided to extend the deadline for submission of paper and panel proposals to July 30 to accommodate the increasing number of interested persons and institutions.

Those interested in making presentations are invited to submit a paper proposal of no more than 200 words and a short biography by July 30, 2021 (Deadline Extended). Colleagues who want to propose panels should submit the paper proposals and short biographies of the prospective panelists. Each proposed panel should have a working topic.

The Organizing Committee will review the paper and panel proposals and send out notifications of acceptance or decline. Those whose proposals are accepted will have until September 30 to submit their papers.