In September, the world’s leading experts on online learning will be in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, for eLearning Africa, the continent’s largest conference on technology assisted learning and training. Some of them are warning that a lack of focus on workplace learning and a failure to harness new technology to equip workers with vital new skills could undermine the benefits of steady economic growth in much of Africa over the last decade.

Ms Rebecca Stromeyer, the organiser of eLearning Africa, said:

“This view has been repeatedly expressed to me by experts in our network. They say that, although technology has helped many African countries to make really impressive progress in recent years, this achievement could soon be undermined if governments and employers don’t make tangible efforts to equip students and workers with the skills they need for tomorrow’s markets and workplaces in the era of a fourth industrial revolution.

“Things are already starting to move very fast. Workers need to be flexible. They need to understand how to acquire new skills quickly and they need to be comfortable working in an environment of constantly accelerating technological change. They can be trained and be prepared for this.

“African countries have a real advantage in being largely unburdened by old-fashioned, hidebound systems, which tie other countries to the past. African businesses can leapfrog their competitors but they have to understand that this means investing in the knowledge economy, in technology and in training their workers. A technically skilled workforce, which is also flexible enough to adapt quickly to change, will be a prized asset in the economy of the future.

“Unfortunately, unlike their European, American and even Chinese competitors, many African companies do not even have HROs (Human Resources Officers), let alone a dedicated executive responsible for the workplace learning (ongoing training) and capacity development for existing and new workers. Companies and governments need to understand that, as the pace of change quickens, this will soon become an existential issue.”

This year’s eLearning Africa will have a strong focus on workplace learning and on the ‘knowledge economy,’ the theme of the annual Ministerial Round Table, which will be held on the opening day of the conference and attended by ministers of education and ICT from all over Africa.

The main conference will also feature keynote presentations from some of the renowned personalities in the global ‘edTech’ industry. Among them will be Elliott Masie, the internationally renowned, educational technology expert credited with coining the term ‘eLearning.’ Mr Masie is well known for his unsentimental views on the changing world of learning and workforce performance.

He continuously states that his “professional focus has been in the fields of corporate learning, organisational performance and emerging technology.” During his career, he has developed models for “accelerating the spread of learning, knowledge and collaboration throughout organisations.” He has been a powerful advocate for the “sane deployment” of learning and collaborative technology as a means of supporting the effectiveness and profitability of enterprises. At eLearning Africa, he will be taking a long, hard look at the prospect forAfrican companies and economies. And he will throw some light on how African political leaders and CEOs can use learning and training as the engine of sustainable prosperity.

“Elliott Masie is a really big name in the business,” says Ms Stromeyer. “He understands the huge potential of Africa. He can see the immense opportunities for enterprises in Africa. But he also knows that, unless African leaders really start to engage with the issue of workplace learning and training, what has been achieved so far could very soon be lost. What he has to say about what needs to be done now is vitally important for African businesses.”

eLearning Africa, which visits a different African capital every year, is attended by over 1500 participants from all over the world. They include professional educators, political leaders, entrepreneurs and investors. The conference is also accompanied by a major exhibition, at which companies, organisations and institutions showcase their latest products, services, courses and solutions.

For more information about eLearning Africa, please visit the conference website at elearning-africa or contact the eLearning Africa press office at press-service@icwe.net.

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 12 consecutive years, eLearning Africa has hosted 16,228 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.