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

Prof. David J. Francis Prof. David J. Francis UNESCO Chair of African Peace & UNESCO Chair of African Peace &

Conflict StudiesConflict Studies

Identifying the challenges of our timeIdentifying the challenges of our time

‘‘If University is so important how comes we have this terrible and If University is so important how comes we have this terrible and bloody civil war’.bloody civil war’.

Market Woman in Freetown, Sierra Leone, July 2001Market Woman in Freetown, Sierra Leone, July 2001

Urgent and critical challenge facing the higher education sector in Urgent and critical challenge facing the higher education sector in Africa today: how to make universities relevant to the needs and Africa today: how to make universities relevant to the needs and aspirations of societiesaspirations of societies

In In post-conflict and transition societiespost-conflict and transition societies: disappointment with : disappointment with dominant philosophy and education system of higher education dominant philosophy and education system of higher education sectorsector

That traditional University Education has not invested in Education That traditional University Education has not invested in Education for Sustainable Development & Education for Peacefor Sustainable Development & Education for Peace

Emerging expectation of universitiesEmerging expectation of universities in 21 in 21stst Century Africa: Century Africa: More visible, practical and long-term involvement More visible, practical and long-term involvement Find answers and respond to issues that affect daily livesFind answers and respond to issues that affect daily lives Expectation of universities to be at the heart of:Expectation of universities to be at the heart of: the enterprise for peace & the enterprise for peace & education for sustainable development agendaeducation for sustainable development agenda

Context and historic neglect of African Context and historic neglect of African universities: impact on social responsibilityuniversities: impact on social responsibility

Historically: post-independence universities established with social Historically: post-independence universities established with social responsibility mandateresponsibility mandate

Impact of lacking of funding and the African CrisesImpact of lacking of funding and the African Crises

Impact of external factors: Structural Adjustment ProgrammesImpact of external factors: Structural Adjustment Programmes

Impact of coping dominant Western Educational Philosophy and Impact of coping dominant Western Educational Philosophy and Systems Systems

Net Effect: inability to fulfil social responsibility mandate and Net Effect: inability to fulfil social responsibility mandate and expectationsexpectations

Revival of International Interest in Revival of International Interest in African UniversitiesAfrican Universities

Diverse International and Continental Initiatives: recognising Diverse International and Continental Initiatives: recognising critical role of universities and higher education sector in Africacritical role of universities and higher education sector in Africa

Emerging Trend of attempts to embed sustainability with HE Emerging Trend of attempts to embed sustainability with HE sector academically, Physically & financially: challenges sector academically, Physically & financially: challenges

But But ALL initiativesALL initiatives simply focus on ‘reform’, ‘revival’, ‘renewal’ and simply focus on ‘reform’, ‘revival’, ‘renewal’ and ‘revitalisation’‘revitalisation’

Post-conflict societies expect fundamental transformation –a Post-conflict societies expect fundamental transformation –a paradigm shiftparadigm shift in dominant philosophy and education systemin dominant philosophy and education system

Peace & Sustainable Development: most important factors in post-war peacebuilding and state reconstruction

Proposed UNESCO African Peace University Proposed UNESCO African Peace University ProjectProject

Strategic VisionStrategic Vision: serve as foundation for : serve as foundation for international education, teaching, training, international education, teaching, training, capacity building, research, knowledge transfer capacity building, research, knowledge transfer and applied skills development that promotes and applied skills development that promotes entrepreneurship & peaceentrepreneurship & peace

Based on ethos of: Based on ethos of: Entrepreneurship Education and Education for Entrepreneurship Education and Education for

Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development First Pan-African International University primarily First Pan-African International University primarily

dedicated to education & skills development for dedicated to education & skills development for social enterprise social enterprise

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Proposed African Peace University Proposed African Peace University Transformative Learning PlanTransformative Learning Plan

Proposed Academic Footprints / ProgrammesProposed Academic Footprints / Programmes

School of Entrepreneurship Education School of Entrepreneurship Education Studies Studies

School of Nursing & Midwifery StudiesSchool of Nursing & Midwifery Studies

School of Business Administration & School of Business Administration & ManagementManagement

School of Peace & Conflict Studies School of Peace & Conflict Studies (Social Sciences & Humanities)(Social Sciences & Humanities)

Environmentally Friendly & Sustainable Environmentally Friendly & Sustainable

InfrastructureInfrastructure Based on:Based on:

Distinctive Architecture: African Identity / indigenous Distinctive Architecture: African Identity / indigenous formsforms

Less dependence on Fossil FuelLess dependence on Fossil Fuel

50-60% Solar energy provision 50-60% Solar energy provision

New forms of Tertiary educational provision: e-New forms of Tertiary educational provision: e-learning / virtual University componentlearning / virtual University component

Innovative Features of APUInnovative Features of APU

Nobel Peace Laureates Annual Peace Lecture SeriesNobel Peace Laureates Annual Peace Lecture Series

African Leadership Annual Lecture Series by former African Leadership Annual Lecture Series by former & Current Presidents& Current Presidents

African Entrepreneurship Annual Lecture Series by African Entrepreneurship Annual Lecture Series by high-profile business leaders from private sectorhigh-profile business leaders from private sector

54 annual MA Scholarships for African Students in 54 annual MA Scholarships for African Students in areas of:areas of:

Peace & Conflict StudiesPeace & Conflict Studies Education for Sustainable DevelopmentEducation for Sustainable Development

Addressing the challenges of Long-term Peace & Addressing the challenges of Long-term Peace & Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development

Pan-African Pan-African Centre of Excellence Centre of Excellence focusing on enterprise for peace as social focusing on enterprise for peace as social responsibilityresponsibility

Based on principle & practice of education for sustainable development & Based on principle & practice of education for sustainable development & Social EnterpriseSocial Enterprise

Job creation and incorporation into labour market and knowledge economyJob creation and incorporation into labour market and knowledge economy

APU PlanAPU Plan: : Framework to address urgent human security issues and global concernsFramework to address urgent human security issues and global concerns Globalise students horizon & make them truly Pan-African & Global citizensGlobalise students horizon & make them truly Pan-African & Global citizens Individual level: self-actualisation, empowerment and participationIndividual level: self-actualisation, empowerment and participation Framework to make universities socially relevant to their communitiesFramework to make universities socially relevant to their communities Based on principles of: Based on principles of: ACCESSACCESS (affordability), (affordability), EQUITYEQUITY (inclusiveness) & (inclusiveness) &

QualityQuality (excellence) (excellence)

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

DevelopmentDevelopment