‘Pure Inspiration’: Turning Dreams into Reality at eLA Conference on ‘Uniting Africa’
Africa’s biggest conference on learning, training and technology, eLearning Africa, will take place in Rwanda this year. Among the keynote speakers at the event, which will be held, under the patronage of the Rwandan Government, in the Kigali Convention Centre from 26 – 28 September, will be some of the biggest names in global education and technology.
They include Professor Nii Narku Quaynor, who established some of Africa’s first internet connections; Dr Martin Dougiamas, the founder of the open-source learning platform, Moodle; Elliott Masie, founder of the Masie Center and Chair of the Learning Consortium; Dr Bitange Ndemo of the University of Nairobi; and academic, anti-apartheid campaigner and entrepreneur, Dr Mamphela Ramphele.
They will be among hundreds of experts, discussing the main conference theme ‘Uniting Africa’ and looking at how technology can break down barriers, enabling Africans to share knowledge, learn and prepare for the future together.
“We are in a period of major change,” says conference organiser, Rebecca Stromeyer. “The world is heading into a ‘fourth industrial revolution,’ according to some commentators. It’s a big opportunity for Africa to leapfrog its competitors. Africa has the advantage of the youngest population on earth. It is full of opportunity and promise. However, in order to seize the opportunity, Africans must come together and ensure that the whole continent is fit for the future. That means sharing knowledge and experience, breaking down barriers to communication, opening up access, supporting diversity and giving all Africans a chance to learn and acquire the skills they need to succeed.
“This edition of eLearning Africa will be really rewarding for all our participants. We have got some of the best known authorities on eLearning coming, along with some of the edTech industry’s most successful entrepreneurs. They’ll be joined by analysts, technologists, administrators, political decision-makers and investors. eLearning Africa really is a place where experience meets opportunity and innovation.”
eLearning Africa, which is accompanied by a major exhibition of new products, services and courses, as well as a day-long roundtable meeting of African ministers of education and ICT, has established a reputation as one of Africa’s most exciting, challenging and rewarding conferences.
“eLearning Africa is a pure inspiration,” says Charles Senkondo, Executive Director of Tanzania’s Global Learning Agency. “I have been coming to these conferences since the very beginning and I have seen how the eLearning Africa network has been built, how it has brought people together and how it has helped to bring some really positive changes within individuals, organizations, governments and the region as well. The discussions we’ll be having in Rwanda are very important: they’re all about how we turn African dreams into reality. Technology and education are right at the heart of that process.”