DAAD at the 2nd African Union Africa Skills Week

The event brought together key stakeholders from across the continent to discuss and shape the future of skills development and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Africa.

The DAAD joined the ASW, under the pivotal role of higher education and its role in skills transition, and especially where higher education helps with TVET workforce preparation, who then train individuals enrolled in TVET’s with specific skills and knowledge needed to enter the labour market. It is widely discussed that there is urgent need for qualified TVET teachers in many African countries, especially for STEM and digital learning, that can be met if there are more robust higher education systems.

For enhanced visibility in the African continent, The DAAD was present both as an exhibitor and audience to the plenary discussions, which focused on advancing training, and skills for sustainable development of human resource across Africa, to develop skilled and immediately employable workers as well as the formation of a continental framework to enshrine these discussions.

One of the main highlights of the exhibition was the visit to the DAAD booth by high-level dignitaries, including H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and H.E. Muferihat Kamil, Ethiopia’s Minister of Labour and Skills. They were welcomed by Dr. Dorothee Weyler, Director of the DAAD Nairobi Regional Office, who presented DAAD’s ongoing and future initiatives aimed at strengthening the skills landscape in Africa through education.

• During her brief talk to the AU chair, Dr. Weyler made emphasis on DAAD’s long-term commitment to supporting education and skills development for Africans, through key funding instruments such as:
  Centres of African Excellence, fostering academic collaboration and innovation with 13 centres all over Africa.
• In-Country and In-Region Scholarship Programmes, supporting local capacity-building without contributing to brain drain. Dr Weyler explained about strategic partnerships with African universities and training institutions to deliver locally relevant, high-quality education.
• DIGI-FACE, an innovative e-learning platform supporting digital education and collaboration.

The joint presence of DAAD Ethiopia and the Nairobi Regional Office, under the #studyforskills theme, represented also by staff from Nairobi and Ethiopia office, showed the importance of DAAD’s regional approach to supporting skills development through higher education for and with the continent.

DAAD extends sincere gratitude to all from Ethiopia and the rest of Africa, who visited our booth. DAAD remains keen to continue working alongside African partners to educate, train, and empower the next generation of skilled professionals, educators, and researchers, which is in alignment with Agenda 2063 and Africa’s vision for inclusive and sustainable development, with education being one of its core pillars.