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UNESCO African Peace University Project: a global perspective of Tomorrow’s Sustainable Universities

UNESCO African Peace University Project: a global perspective of Tomorrow’s Sustainable Universities . Prof. David J. Francis UNESCO Chair of African Peace & Conflict Studies.

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UNESCO African Peace University Project: a global perspective of Tomorrow’s Sustainable Universities

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  1. UNESCO African Peace University Project: a global perspective of Tomorrow’s Sustainable Universities Prof. David J. Francis UNESCO Chair of African Peace & Conflict Studies

  2. Identifying the challenges of our time‘If University is so important how comes we have this terrible and bloody civil war’.Market Woman in Freetown, Sierra Leone, July 2001 • Urgent and critical challenge facing the higher education sector in Africa today: how to make universities relevant to the needs and aspirations of societies • In post-conflict and transition societies: disappointment with dominant philosophy and education system of higher education sector • That traditional University Education has not invested in Education for Sustainable Development & Education for Peace • Emerging expectation of universities in 21st Century Africa: • More visible, practical and long-term involvement • Find answers and respond to issues that affect daily lives • Expectation of universities to be at the heart of: • the enterprise for peace & • education for sustainable development agenda

  3. Context and historic neglect of African universities: impact on social responsibility • Historically: post-independence universities established with social responsibility mandate • Impact of lacking of funding and the African Crises • Impact of external factors: Structural Adjustment Programmes • Impact of coping dominant Western Educational Philosophy and Systems • Net Effect: inability to fulfil social responsibility mandate and expectations

  4. Revival of International Interest in African Universities • Diverse International and Continental Initiatives: recognising critical role of universities and higher education sector in Africa • Emerging Trend of attempts to embed sustainability with HE sector academically, Physically & financially: challenges • But ALL initiativessimply focus on ‘reform’, ‘revival’, ‘renewal’ and ‘revitalisation’ • Post-conflict societies expect fundamental transformation –a paradigm shiftin dominant philosophy and education system • Peace & Sustainable Development: most important factors in post-war peacebuilding and state reconstruction

  5. Proposed UNESCO African Peace University Project • Strategic Vision: serve as foundation for international education, teaching, training, capacity building, research, knowledge transfer and applied skills development that promotes entrepreneurship & peace • Based on ethos of: • Entrepreneurship Education and Education for Sustainable Development • First Pan-African International University primarily dedicated to education & skills development for social enterprise • re

  6. Proposed African Peace University Transformative Learning Plan

  7. Proposed Academic Footprints / Programmes School of Entrepreneurship Education Studies School of Nursing & Midwifery Studies School of Business Administration & Management School of Peace & Conflict Studies (Social Sciences & Humanities)

  8. Environmentally Friendly & Sustainable Infrastructure • Based on: • Distinctive Architecture: African Identity / indigenous forms • Less dependence on Fossil Fuel • 50-60% Solar energy provision • New forms of Tertiary educational provision: e-learning / virtual University component

  9. Innovative Features of APU • Nobel Peace Laureates Annual Peace Lecture Series • African Leadership Annual Lecture Series by former & Current Presidents • African Entrepreneurship Annual Lecture Series by high-profile business leaders from private sector • 54 annual MA Scholarships for African Students in areas of: • Peace & Conflict Studies • Education for Sustainable Development

  10. Addressing the challenges of Long-term Peace & Sustainable Development • Pan-African Centre of Excellence focusing on enterprise for peace as social responsibility • Based on principle & practice of education for sustainable development & Social Enterprise • Job creation and incorporation into labour market and knowledge economy • APU Plan: • Framework to address urgent human security issues and global concerns • Globalise students horizon & make them truly Pan-African & Global citizens • Individual level: self-actualisation, empowerment and participation • Framework to make universities socially relevant to their communities • Based on principles of: ACCESS (affordability), EQUITY (inclusiveness) & Quality (excellence)

  11. Tomorrow’s Africa: a University that builds Peace and Sustains Development

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