eLearning Africa returns to Kigali in May 2022

The 15^th International Conference and Exhibition on Digital Education, Training and Skills Development will take place in Rwandan Capital City, Kigali from May 11 – 13, 2022, at Kigali Convention Center with the theme of “A new purpose for Education”.

eLearning Africa 2022, which is Africa’s largest conference and exhibition on technology supported learning, training and skills development will be graced by experts, practitioners, policy makers and investors committed to the future of education and training.  Multiple renowned speakers will look at issues, including: specific, practical challenges facing African countries, the suitability of global models in the African context, the importance of redirecting education to African countries’ future needs, the use of technology in enabling African countries to respond to their specific needs, the development of a single African market and the consequent opportunities and requirements of employers, the contribution Africa can make to global learning and to providing African experience for solving global problems.

eLearning Africa is accompanied by an exhibition, featuring products, services and courses offered by some of the world’s leading producers and providers. The conference itself offers a wide variety of opportunities for discussion, knowledge sharing and networking, in the form of plenary sessions, workshops, seminars and debates. It also hosts a ministerial roundtable, at which ministers of ICT and education, together with officials and advisers, discuss emerging themes with experts, academics and representatives of companies and organisations from around the world. The theme for this year’s roundtable is “A New Purpose for Education” and it will consider the practical challenges facing African countries, the implications of a single market, and the contribution Africa can make to global learning and providing solutions to global problems.

Speaking ahead of the conference as political leaders, education experts and investors from all over the world prepare to head to Rwanda for eLearning Africa, one of the continent’s first major global, in-person conferences since the start of the Covid pandemic, Rwandan Education Minister, Dr Valentine Uwamariya, said:

“eLearning Africa and the opportunity it brings for dialogue between key stakeholders is so important. This conference, and the ministerial roundtable taking place at it, will give us a chance to focus our attention on how we can all work together, as a continent and as a global community, to use technology-assisted learning to boost growth and bring lasting change and prosperity.”

Africa has reached a crossroads. Now we face a choice. Let us seize the moment and take advantage of the best chance we’ll ever have as a continent by making the most of the fact that Africa has a dynamic, youthful, growing population – a real reservoir of human resources and talent. It also means planning, cooperating, and investing in technology-assisted learning and training, so that we can spread the benefits of education and provide the new skills that are vital for the workforce of the future. Failing to focus now on education, training and technology would be unforgivable.”

“Africa is now at a crucial moment in its development. The creation of African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA), the African single market, is an unprecedented opportunity to transform the fortunes of our continent and its people. We can leapfrog other countries and regions. We have a chance to bring real prosperity to Africa. But we must take the necessary steps to prepare ourselves and our people. Above all, investing in the combination of education and ICT and in ensuring that our people have the skills necessary for the markets of the future. Information and Communications technology can spread the benefits of education and training to the remotest parts of our continent. In the wake of the Covid pandemic and an economic downturn, every African government should now focus relentlessly on its education and ICT strategy. That is what will make the African Union’s 2063 Vision a reality.” said Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire.

eLearning Africa founder Rebecca Stromeyer said that the conference is attracting “huge” levels of interest and support:

“People are delighted that we’re going ahead again. For our network of experts and professionals from all over the world, it’s going to be like a giant family gathering! They’re all looking forward to seeing each other and to making new friends and contacts. And we’ve had an enormous amount of interest from the corporate sector, including some of the biggest names in global edTech. Africa is the place to be right now for investors in education and technology. There is a widespread awareness of the fact that Rwanda has coped well with the pandemic and our participants will be well looked after in a superb conference location and we’re looking forward to seeing them for what promises to be a very significant conference.”

The eLearning Africa annual conference and exhibition, which was established in 2005, is the largest and most comprehensive knowledge sharing event for technology-enhanced education, training, and skills on the African continent. It is a global forum for everyone with an interest in education, training, and skills development in Africa. In the past years it has offered thousands of professionals in education, training, and development invaluable insights into the evolving world of ICT enhanced learning.

It provides a diverse, content rich and thought-provoking programme, which includes pre-conference workshops and launches, plenary sessions, debates, discovery demos, knowledge factories and an annual Ministerial Round Table, as well as a large exhibition and demonstration area hosting leading international and African educational and technology organizations across sectors in Africa.