Accelerating Africa’s Aspirations

I’m delighted to announce I’ll be speaking at the World Bank’s High-Level Forum on Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, in Rwanda this week. Led by H.E. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, the Forum will continue to make the case for investment in higher education and technology.

I’ll be talking about the role of the private sector, and will share my speech and perhaps blog some reflections shortly afterwards.

Find more information here or below:

“In collaboration with the World Bank, H.E. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, will host an upcoming forum on the theme Higher Education for Science, Technology and Innovation: Accelerating Africa’s Aspirations. This high-level event, which will take place in Kigali on March 13, 2014, brings together ministers of education and higher education, and experts from academia and the private sector. It will highlight the critical role that science, technology, and innovation can play in shaping Africa’s future in the 21st century, and draw attention to priorities and solutions as countries seek to upgrade their higher education systems.

High-quality university programs in Africa, particularly in areas such as the applied sciences, technology, and engineering, could dramatically increase the region’s competitiveness, productivity and growth, as well as enable economies to diversify away from today’s heavy reliance on natural resources extraction. Strategic reforms are needed to expand young people’s access to science-based education at both the country and the regional level, and to ensure that they graduate with cutting-edge knowledge that is relevant and meets the needs of the private sector.”