The Erasmus+ Week 2024 for Sub-Saharan Africa - Cluster and Contact Making Meeting, brought to you by the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) of the European Commission and the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), took place in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) on 26 and 27 June 2024, and online via the RingCentral virtual platform.
The event gathered Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training institutions from Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe which are active in the Erasmus+ programme or potentially interested in developing cooperation under this scheme. Participants were joined by stakeholders involved in the implementation and promotion of the Erasmus+ programme, such as the African Erasmus+ National Focal Points, Erasmus+ National Agencies, European Union Delegations in Africa, the European Commission and the European Education and Culture Executive Agency.
Erasmus+ Cluster and Contact Making Meeting (26-27 June)
The Cluster Meeting on the 26th and 27th June supported the cooperation between African and European education actors, discussing the experience of Erasmus+ beneficiaries and inspiring potential newcomers. In doing so, the event addressed the overall meeting theme of Digital in Education (explained in more detail below).
Contact-making session (27 June)
The half-day contact-making session fostered potential further cooperation between African and European stakeholders. Facilitated exercises enabled participants to meet and engage with each other, with a view to forming project partnerships. The online and in situ participants took part in different activities, designed to make best use of their physical or online situations.
Overall theme: Digital in Education
This year’s thematic focus was Digital in Education. Rapid digitalisation over the past decade has transformed many aspects of work and daily life. Driven by innovation and technological evolution, the digital transformation is reshaping society, the labour market and the future of work.
The education and training system is increasingly part of the digital transformation and can harness its benefits and opportunities. However, it also needs to effectively manage the risks of the digital transformation, including the risk of a digital divide where certain people - or regions - can benefit more than others, and prepare for the rapid deployment of Artificial Intelligence. The digital transformation in education is being driven by advances in connectivity, the widespread use of devices and digital applications, the need for individual flexibility and the ever increasing demand for digital skills.
We have learned much from the COVID-19 crisis, which has heavily impacted education and training and accelerated digital change. In addition, African societies facing a high demographic pressure, see digitalisation as a means to expand access to education.
In line with the strategic priorities of the European Digital Education Action Plan (2021-2027), the Erasmus+ programme can play a key role in supporting citizens of all ages in acquiring the digital skills and competences they need to live, learn, work, exercise their rights, be informed, access online services, communicate, critically consume, create and disseminate digital education content.
Finally, the Erasmus+ programme is part of and contributes to the Global Gateway Africa – Europe Investment Package. In this context, the event focussed on the necessary articulation of two of the Global Gateway's main objectives, namely “Accelerating the digital transition” and “Improving education and training”.
You can find all of the presentations from the Cluster Meeting below. If you have any questions regarding these, please contact secretariat@enfpsupport.net.
The presentations from the Sub-Saharan Africa Regional ENFPs Meeting can be found here. (Access restricted to ENFPs from the region.)
Watch the videos of the event
26 June 2024 - Part 1: Watch now
27 June 2024 - Part 2: Watch now
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