eLearning Africa, an annual, pan-African conference, dedicated to examining the potential for using new communications technology to spread educational opportunity, is now in its fourteenth year. This year's theme is "learnability and employability". The creative, insightful and action orientated conference programme covers a range of topics, all linked to actions that must be scaled up today in order to create a better future for Africa tomorrow.  Africa's challenges and opportunities are immense. There is clearly no "one size fits all" approach to addressing them. In that context, eLearning Africa provides a vibrant platform and convening space for cross-cutting and crosspollinating dialogues on essential themes.

With the majority of Africa's population millennial and younger, significant time will be dedicated during 3 days of intensive presentations, workshops, seminars and ministerial meetings from 23 - 25 October to examining how the continent's youth potential can be most effectively harnessed. Young Africans need to be well prepared for the digital disruptions that are already transforming and will continue to transform the future of work in their countries. Which skills must they have to thrive in the digital future? In response to that question, there will be sessions focused, among other themes, on digital inclusion and how to make the Fourth Industrial Revolution a reality that benefits Africa. Others will explore how to develop students' skills and attitudes that foster entrepreneurship, creativity, persistence and ambition.

Africa needs properly prepared professionals, who are digitally literate and can ensure young Africans are provided with the technical and soft skills they need to excel in their careers. With the role of quality teachers critical to the formation of young minds, the programme also focuses on strategies to enhance teaching and learning that are universally relevant, transcend traditional academic disciplines, and support diverse occupational and community needs. In that context, innovative methods that aim to improve teachers' performance, whilst motivating and encouraging them to embrace innovation will be discussed.

Additionally, eLearning Africa 2019 will explore how interactive virtual tools can provide opportunities to practice laboratory techniques and perform authentic workplace tasks online, whilst promoting science education in an attractive and exciting manner. Connectivity, an essential element in the virtual world, is clearly still a major issue in Africa. The programme thus dedicates a session to highlighting solutions that provide affordable access to internet and offline educational services and content, anywhere.

Africa has no shortage of entrepreneurs. The challenge for Africa is to move from tackling unemployment to looking at how entrepreneurial activity can add value, employ more young people, and create sustainable livelihoods. Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are also extremely important for the growth and development of Africa. However, SMEs face many challenges, some of which are related to a lack of appropriate training.

This year's programme therefore also explores different initiatives in Africa, which aim to provide entrepreneurs with the crucial knowledge and skills they need to grow their businesses and make them sustainable. Discussions will also address how the demand for entrepreneurial training and skills can be met outside traditional channels and explore different initiatives to attract both learners and entrepreneurs.

As always, there will be a lively discussion at the 'eLearning Africa Debate.' This year, the motion for debate, which is likely to be highly controversial is "This House believes Governments are failing to provide young people with the skills they need to prepare for the future."

Background

The conference, eLearning Africa, will bring together international education and technology specialists, government ministers, entrepreneurs and investors to discuss opportunities for expanding Africa's growing education sector. It is a subject which lies at the heart of the African Union's plans for turning Africa into a "transformed continent" by 2063 and it will be discussed and debated during 3 days of intensive presentations, workshops, seminars and ministerial meetings in the west African capital from 23 - 25 October. Major international organisations, such as UNESCO, ISESCO, BOAD, the European Commission, the Mastercard Foundation, ADEA, Worldwide Web Foundation, ACBF and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) feature prominently on the conference programme.

eLearning Africa, which is an annual, pan-African conference, dedicated to examining the potential for using new communications technology to spread educational opportunity, is now in its fourteenth year. Since the conference, which visits a different African capital each year, was first held in Addis Ababa in 2005, technology assisted learning has expanded massively and now plays a major role in the delivery of learning, training, research and development in schools, colleges, universities, companies and organisations across Africa. It has enabled millions of Africans to expand their horizons and take advantage of the countless possibilities new technology offers to study and acquire new skills and qualifications.

For more information about both the eLearning Africa conference and exhibition or the associated eLearning Africa Ministerial Round Table, which will be attended by Education and ICT Ministers, please contact Rebecca Stromeyer.

eLearning Africa is the key networking event for ICT supported education, training and skills development in Africa and brings together high-level policy makers, decision makers and practitioners from education, business and government. Over 13 consecutive years, eLearning Africa has hosted 17,278 participants from 100+ different countries around the world, with over 85% coming from the African continent. More than 3,300 speakers have addressed the conference about every aspect of technology enhanced education and skills development. Serving as a pan- African platform, the eLearning Africa conference is a must for those who want to develop multinational and cross-industry contacts and partnerships, as well as enhance their knowledge, expertise and abilities. The conference and its associated exhibition, featuring the latest products, courses and solutions from around the world, represent "an outstanding networking opportunity and the best vantage point anywhere in Africa to gain a view of the continent's edTech market," according to the organisers.