eLearning Africa: Education – Innovation – Transformation
From 29 to 31 May 2024, the global education scene met at eLearning Africa in Rwanda. More than 1,200 visitors from 82 countries attested to the importance of the exhibition and congress. The preceding iMOVE visitor programme was met with great interest and a positive response from German education providers.
The iMOVE delegation is in high spirits during the delegation programme in Kigali
The East African country of Rwanda is regarded as a pioneer of digitalisation in Africa. Numerous international companies have now opened branches in the capital Kigali.
The Volkswagen Group is taking advantage of the government's and the private sector's openness to technology to test a new mobility solution. It is therefore only natural that the organisers of eLearning Africa have once again chosen the metropolis in the "Land of a Thousand Hills" as the venue for the 17th edition of the event.
iMOVE has been a partner of the event since 2018.
Shaping vocational educational through innovation
Themed "Shaping the Future of Education & Training through Innovation", the congress attracted more than 1,200 visitors from 82 countries.
15 delegations from African Ministries of Education took part in the Ministerial Round Table and adopted a communiqué.
Among the more than 80 exhibitors were numerous German companies, which either used the exhibition opportunities in the German Pavilion or the joint stand of the international trade association "Worlddidac".
Ministerial Round Table in which 15 delegations from African Ministries of Education took part and adopted a communiqué
Education as a driver of innovation and development
In terms of content, the focus was on the role of education as a driver of innovation and development in Africa and elsewhere. The triad of education, innovation and social change was a recurring theme in the more than 70 sessions and workshops in the conference programme.
Transformative strategies for adapting education, training and skills initiatives to the digital age were another key area. Topics included the future of work, the use of technology, effective policy-making and empowering individuals through digital skills and entrepreneurship.
entrance to the eLearning Africa
iMOVE visitor programme in Kigali
On the Monday and Tuesday (27 and 28 May) before the start of the event, iMOVE organised an attractive programme of visits to the important institutions of the Rwandan education sector around the capital Kigali.
With more than 20 participants from German education companies, interest in this programme was particularly high.
Rwanda's Minister of State for Vocational Education and Training, Claudette Irere (centre), welcomes the iMOVE delegation.
The visitor programme started with a joint dinner on Sunday evening to get to know each other and exchange ideas. On Monday morning, the German Embassy in Kigali hosted the iMOVE delegation for a briefing on the general economic and political situation in the country.
The next stop was the Rwandan Ministry of Information Communication Technology and Innovation. There, the ministry presented its various strategies and approaches to promoting digitalisation. A particular focus lies on the training of IT specialists in various institutions in the country.
After a short visit to the "Genocide Memorial", one of the central sites commemorating the 1994 genocide, the group visited the "Rwanda Polytechnic", the largest institution for higher vocational education in Rwanda. As part of a campus tour, the company representatives from Germany familiarised themselves with the institution and then presented their solutions.
The first day of the visit programme concluded with the opening ceremony of the Rwandan branch of WBS Training AG. In the presence of the German Ambassador to Rwanda, numerous representatives from the Rwandan education sector and the iMOVE delegation, Martina Wagner of WBS Group opened the training and office premises in Kigali. From now on, bridging qualifications and German courses for young people from Rwanda will be offered here - with the aim of placing the graduates in apprenticeships in German companies.
The iMOVE delegation visited various vocational education and training institutions in Rwanda. The picture shows the visit to the Rwanda TVET Board.
The highlight of the second day of the programme was a visit to the Rwandan Ministry of Education. In direct dialogue with Minister of State Claudette Irere, the companies and institutions that had travelled with us were able to present their solutions and services for the Rwandan education market.
The Rwanda TVET Board, the central government institution for the administration of vocational education and training in Rwanda, was also part of the programme, which was rounded off by a visit to the Rwandan branch of the German IT-company "Testsolutions".
The delegation in dialogue with the Rwanda TVET Board.
Feedback from the delegation
Here are some of the voices of the participants:
Contacts with decision-makers were not only established, but also supported in the long term.
The preparation was comprehensive and very well organised, the appointments were exciting and the representatives of the institutions visited were very open and interested. The support and moderation by Peter Pfaffe was also very successful, well-founded and goal-orientated - a really great networking event. The dialogue between the participants was also inspiring. Thank you!
The good atmosphere in the group. Plenty of time to exchange ideas and make or deepen contacts.
We are very motivated by the positive feedback from participants!