African Research and Education Day
FAPI final seminar 13 November 2024
For more information regarding the speakers please see below.
To whom?
The event is the final seminar of the FAPI network, but all HE institutes, researchers and stakeholders are welcome to participate. The event is free of charge but the organisers do not offer financial support for travel or other expenses of the participants. The purpose is to share information, discuss and network with the aim for the common understanding and the future cooperation.
Introduction to the general theme
In the upcoming decades, Africa will become an influential player in the international scene. According to the United Nations World Population Prospects report, Africa’s population will surpass 2 billion by 2050, and 25 percent of the world’s population will be African by that time. Moreover, in the years to come, Africa will become the world’s largest source of population growth. Meanwhile, major economies like China, the US, and Europe are expected to see a major demographic decline. How should our higher education address this change? How Finnish higher education institutes should look into the future after the global pilots?
You can find the Seminar flyer here
Programme
8.30 Registration opens and refreshments
9.00–10.00 Poster sessions and networking
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- Revitalizing Waste, Reshaping Futures: A Finnish-Namibian Initiative
- Appreciation and revitalization of indigenous languages and phonetic training of English in Namibia
- COLOUR MOVIES OF BLACK HOLES: THE AFRICA MILLIMETRE TELESCOPE (AMT)
- A joint course in Marine Spatial Planning for students in Novia UAS and State University of Zanzibar a TFK-project 2023-2025
- Sustainable Futures -Biogas Value Chain for Circular Economy Competence Growth in Zambia
- Potential of Nano Grids as a Source of Affordable & Clean Energy for Zambia (1.9.2022-31.12.2024)
- Smart Agriculture for Sustainable Food Security Using the Internet of Things (IoT) in Uganda
- LuT’s Impact in Africa Leading in Finnish Africa Maths Projects.
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10.00–10.15 Welcoming words
Marjo Kaartinen, Rector, University of Turku
10.15–10.30 Greetings from the EU
Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnership, European Union
10.30–11.00 Keynote speech: The role of education in science, technology, and innovation strategies in Africa,
Professor John Ouma Mugabe, University of Pretoria
Session 1: 11.00–12.15 Research based University education in Finland and Africa
Chair: Sai Väyrynen, Director, GINTL Africa and China -network, University of Helsinki
What kind of sustainable educational co-operation we should have with our African partners? How our university education should address the current development in Africa? What kind of education we should offer for our new generation both in Finland and Africa? How the global change should be addressed in the curriculum development? How to raise awareness about Africa and interest among students and young researchers in Finland?
- Unboxing Africa – recognising entangled pasts and presents for a shared future
Professor Friederike Lüpke, African Studies, University of Helsinki
- Finnish Higher Education and the African Question
Associate Professor Emmanuel Acquah, Åbo Akademi University
- How to raise awareness and interest among students and young researchers
Dr. Joy Eghonghon Akahome, Senior lecturer, Coimbra Group Young African fellow at the University of Turku, Federal University Otuoke Bayelsa State, Nigeria
- How can we reduce asymmetries in Finland-Africa academic partnerships?
Dr. Elizabeth Eta, Postdoctoral Researcher, GINTL network, University of Helsinki
Discussions
12.15–13.30 Lunch, Possibility to view the posters in the lobby of Natura
Session 2: 13.30–14.30 FAPI-network Collaboration cases with Africa: the future impact
Chair: Kirsi Korpela, International Liaison Officer, Partnerships and Strategic Engagement Unit, University of Turku
- Co-creating digital social innovations for global sustainability transformations – DIDAIhub and Resilience Academy
Professor Niina Käyhkö, Department of Geography and Geology, University of Turku
- Innovating Together: Finland-Africa Partnership for Impactful Health Education
Desale Kahsay, Doctoral Researcher, Nursing Science, University of Turku
- Course on sustainable urban regeneration
Kaisa Kanerva, Senior Lecturer and Team Leader, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
- Maternal mental health in sub-Saharan Africa: eMAMA project
Arina Ventelä, Project Advisor, Turku University of Applied Sciences
Discussions
Session 3: 14.30–15.45 Importance of Namibia-Finland cooperation in the future
Chair: Professor Maija Peltola, University of Turku
- Community-driven tree planting for sustainable forestry in Namibia (FAPI-seed funding project)
Sanna Huttunen, Researcher, University of Turku
- Fostering Sustainable Futures with Namibia
Roseanna Avento, Global Development Manager, University of Eastern Finland
Professor Erkki Sutinen, University of Turku
- Southern African science and culture institute to Windhoek
Rector Emeritus Professor Kalervo Väänänen
Discussion
Short break
Panel session: 16.00–16.45 Education and Research with Impact regarding Africa
Chair: Professor Jussi Jauhiainen, FAPI Network Academic Leader, University of Turku
Panelists:
Professor Erkki Sutinen, University of Turku
Professor Niina Käyhkö, University of Turku
Director Kaisa Kurki, UniPID
Director Sai Väyrynen, GINTL Africa and China
Associate Professor Emmanuel Acquah, Åbo Akademi University
Professor Enrico Di Minin, University of Helsinki
16.45– 17.00 Wrap up: toward the future in the cooperation
Irinja Paakkanen, Head of International Affairs, Partnerships and Strategic Engagement Unit, University of Turku
17.00–18.00 Reception
Networking and possibility to view the posters
FINAL_Programme (updated on 12 November)
Please note also that you might be interested to participate to the side event the next day
Africa education and research funding event, Thu 14 November 2024, 9.00–12.00
Organised by UTU and other HE institutions in Turku (TRUEnet)
In Africa education and research funding event, researchers share their own experiences with different funding schemes (Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, TFK, HEI-ICI/HEP, etc.), and there will be an overview of the Africa-themed Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ calls for 2025.
For more information, please visit the event webpage here