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Nairobi, May 23, 2012. The African Virtual University will today celebrate the 4th eLearning day at the eLearning Africa Conference in Cotonou, Benin. The all day event will showcase AVU's innovative approach to use of ICT infrastructure in increasing access to higher education.
The theme this year is: "A Comprehensive Approach in Enhancing the Capacity of African Universities in Distance and eLearning" with focus on how the AVU Multinational Project II will contribute to address challenges facing institutions of higher learning in Africa. Previous AVU eLearning days were held in Senegal, Zambia and Tanzania in partnership with ICWE the organizer of the eLearning Africa Conference.
The multinational project aims at strengthening the capacity of a network of institutions and the AVU to improve higher education ICT infrastructure and to develop, deliver and manage quality Higher Education Science and Technology Programs through eLearning.
Supported by the African Development Bank, the multinational project will be implemented in 21 countries and 27 institutions across Africa and will focus on establishing distance and eLearning centers, development and delivery of eLearning programs, on research and development with focus on mobile learning, training of trainers, technical assistance in eLearning strategies and policies, and on gender mainstreaming.
AVU Rector Dr. Bakary Diallo said: "This event is an opportunity to showcase how eLeaning is being mainstreamed in higher education institutions, and Benin is an ideal place to hold it since the country is benefiting from the AVU multinational project II".
The eLearning day is an open forum which will enable participants to network and share their eLearning initiatives with the AVU for possible synergies/collaborations; interact with AVU staff and learn how the AVU has harnessed the innovative use of ICTs to increase access to higher Education in Africa; understand AVU approach in enhancing the capacities of African universities. Participants will also get information on the AVU programs and activities and their impact in higher Education on the continent.
Learning Institutions, development agencies, government agencies, donors, Stakeholders and Partners, Policy Makers, ICT and eLearning experts, University and school Administrators, Teachers, Instructional Designers, individuals, the general public and AVU Friends are expected to attend the event.
For media inquiries contact: Godwin Bonge Muhwezi, Senior Marketing and Communications Officer; Tel +254700395376; e-mail: gmuhwezi@avu.org
The African Virtual University (AVU) is a Pan African Intergovernmental Organization whose aim is to significantly increase access to quality higher education and training through the innovative use of Information and Communication Technologies.
Founded in 1997, the AVU has graduated 43,000 students across Africa and established the largest network of Open Distance and eLearning institutions in over 30 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. AVU works across borders and languages in Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone Africa.
In 2011 AVU received global recognition with an award by the US-based Education-Portal.com for its Open Education Resources http://oer.avu.org activities in the category of "Best Emerging OCW Initiative".
The AVU is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya with a regional office in Dakar, Senegal. www.avu.org
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