At the Extra-Ordinary Session of the
Specialised Technical Committee on Education, Science and Technology
held recently, Hewlett-Packard (HP) and the African Union Commission
(AUC), agreed
to join efforts to expand digital learning opportunities
for all youth in 55 AU member-states.
Both entities have agreed to collaborate
on various initiatives including exchange of information and expertise,
as well as promotion of online platforms to support digital learning.
Africa has the youngest population in
the world with more than 400 million young people aged between 15 to 35
years. Almost all countries across the continent have introduced some
form of nation-wide school and university closures to contain the
Covid-19 virus. This means that there are a very large number of
children and young people that are not receiving any form of schooling.
At the meeting, the Managing Director
and Vice President of HP Africa, Elisabeth Moreno, presented HP’s
Learning Initiative for Entrepreneurship (HP LIFE) and BeOnline
programmes, two unique online learning platforms that could be utilised
by ministers to support schools and educators in their distance learning
endeavours.
The two online learning platforms would
contribute towards the ‘1 Million By 2021 Initiative’ of the Chairperson
of the AU, Moussa Faki Mahammat.
The initiative seeks to provide
opportunities to young Africans from the 55 member states in the areas
of education, employment, engagement and entrepreneurship. It is against
this backdrop that the AU and HP are prioritising digital learning
opportunities for African youth.
According to Moreno, “Education is a fundamental human right that
should be available regardless of a person’s age, class, race, gender or
location.
“To that end, HP has pledged to enable
better learning outcomes for 100 million people by 2025, as well as
adding 1 million users to HP LIFE between 2016-25 – a commitment that
aligns with the AU’s Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA),
which aims to change Africa’s education and training systems to meet the
knowledge, competencies, skills, innovation and creativity required to
nurture core values and promote sustainable development on a continental
level.”
Today, technology can support new styles
of learning. PCs and tools designed for education can offer students
flexibility of time, place, and pace of learning, whether in or out of
the classroom, or in a blend of environments.
HP and AU joint efforts have the potential to uplift access of education and opportunities for career work and economic growth. The collaboration aims to promote innovations that hold the best potential to make lifelong learning a reality, Moreno said.
The Commissioner of the AUC Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology, Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor said: “The partnership with HP will accelerate our education response to Covid-19 especially and have long-term benefits. I implore AU Member States to make the most of these opportunities as this partnership means young people can access educational opportunities at no cost for the rest of this academic year. This partnership speaks directly to H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat’s 1 Million by 2021 initiative by providing educational opportunities which will assist in positioning our youth to venture into the entrepreneurial sector.”
BeOnline is a programme that was developed by HP in partnership with Classera, the leader in Learning Management Systems and Mirai, a learning innovations group focusing on learning strategy and digital pedagogy, to assist the endeavours of the education community.
In line with the most recent regional governments’ directives for distance learning, the programme aims to support schools and universities in establishing a fully-fledged virtual learning environment, by providing expertise and tools at no cost.
The HP Foundation has created its global programme HP LIFE to provide business and Information Technology (IT) skills training free of charge to people all over the world. The online community and more than 30 self-paced courses are designed to help users develop business and IT skills in their own time and at their own pace. The courses are modular, interactive, and full of information and practical exercises that enable users to grow their business skills, Moreno said.
HP and AU joint efforts have the potential to uplift access of education and opportunities for career work and economic growth. The collaboration aims to promote innovations that hold the best potential to make lifelong learning a reality, Moreno said.
The Commissioner of the AUC Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology, Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor said: “The partnership with HP will accelerate our education response to Covid-19 especially and have long-term benefits. I implore AU Member States to make the most of these opportunities as this partnership means young people can access educational opportunities at no cost for the rest of this academic year. This partnership speaks directly to H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat’s 1 Million by 2021 initiative by providing educational opportunities which will assist in positioning our youth to venture into the entrepreneurial sector.”
BeOnline is a programme that was developed by HP in partnership with Classera, the leader in Learning Management Systems and Mirai, a learning innovations group focusing on learning strategy and digital pedagogy, to assist the endeavours of the education community.
In line with the most recent regional governments’ directives for distance learning, the programme aims to support schools and universities in establishing a fully-fledged virtual learning environment, by providing expertise and tools at no cost.
The HP Foundation has created its global programme HP LIFE to provide business and Information Technology (IT) skills training free of charge to people all over the world. The online community and more than 30 self-paced courses are designed to help users develop business and IT skills in their own time and at their own pace. The courses are modular, interactive, and full of information and practical exercises that enable users to grow their business skills, Moreno said.
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