PASET – Rsif Conference

6th PASET Forum & Rsif Annual Conference – 2024

Sessions

DAY 1: 23rd April 2024 
Session 1: Opening Ceremony 

Moderator: Dr. Esther Thaara Muoria, Principal Secretary, State Department for TVET, Kenya

Presentation from the Ministry of Education, Kenya

Opening Statements:

  • Hon. Claudette IRERE,Chair of PASET Governing Council and Minister of State for Education, Rwanda
  • Dr Muna Salih Meky, Education Practice Manager, Eastern and Southern Africa, World Bank
  • Hon. Johnstone Sakaja, CBS, Governor, Nairobi City County, Kenya
  • Dr. Ezekiel Machogu, EGH, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education, Kenya

Official Opening Statement:

  • H.E William Ruto CGH, The President of the Republic of Kenya
Session 2: PASET (Past, Present and Future) 

Panel discussion on PASET Past, Present and Future, PASET 10-year Strategic Plan (2024-2034), Proposal on financial stabilization and how to be part of PASET.

Moderator: Prof. Goolam Mohamedbhai (Chair of PASET Consultative Advisory Group-CAG)

  • Panelist 1: Prof. Aminata Sall Diallo, Executive Director of PASET Executive Board
  • Panelist 2: Dr. Abdou Tenkouano, Director General of icipe
  • Panelist 3: Eng. Mike Hughes,  PASET EB Member from Rwanda
  • Panelist 4: Dr. Miriam Altman, Member of PASET Consultative Advisory Group-CAG & Chair of Financial Stabilization sub-committee 
Session 3: High level panel on strengthening PASET as a partnership to leverage TVET in the Knowledge and Skills Ecosystem for Africa’s Industrialization. 

Keynote Speaker: Prof. Wole Soboyejo, SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Moderator: Dr George Afeti, Vice Chair of PASET Consultative Advisory Group

  • Panelist 1: Prof. Aly Savadogo, Director General for Higher Education- Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation- Burkina Faso
  • Panelist 2: Mr. Yamal Matabudul, Chief Executive Officer, Polytechnics Mauritius
  • Panelist 3: Mr. Antony Mwangi, Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Association of Manufacturers
  • Panelist 4: Dr. Cosam Joseph, Regional Project Coordinator of EASTRIP
Session 4: TVET in the 4th Industrial Revolution  

Presentation and panel discussion to understand the emerging technologies of the 4IR such as robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, cloud computing etc. as opportunities to address Africa’s industrialization challenges and Sharing country experiences in digital skills training linked to the future of work. 

Session 4.1 Emerging technologies of the 4IR as opportunities to address Africa’s industrialization challenges. 

Moderator: Dr. Moses Osiru, Senior Education Specialist, World Bank

  • Panelist 1: Dr Kamau Gachigi, Executive Director, Gearbox Kenya.
  • Panelist 2: Dr. Stephane Nwolley, Founder and CEO, Npontu Technologies Ltd, Ghana, Accra
  • Panelist 3: Dr Kevit Desai, Co-Chair of the Agricultural Technology Innovation Center at KATIC.
  • Panelist 4: Alain Ndayishimiye/ Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Lead, Centre for the 4th Industrial Revolution, Rwanda
Session 4.2: Country experiences in digital skills training linked to the future of work and industrialisation.

Moderator: Dr. Edwin Tarno, Chief Executive Officer, Kenya School of TVET- Kenya

  • Panelist 1: Hon. Claudette Irere, Minister of State for Education, Rwanda
  • Panelist 2: Hon. Eléonore Yayi Ladékan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Benin
  • Panelist 3: Marilza Machado Gomes Regattieri, Professional Educational Specialist/ SENAI, Brazil (Online)
  • Panelist 4: Dr. Michael Fung, Former Deputy CEO, Skills Future, Singapore & Executive Director, Institute for the Future of Education. (Online)
Session 5: Policy interventions and resource mobilization for sustainable TVET

Moderator: Katerina Ananiadou, UNESCO-Paris

  • Panelist 1: Hon. Ezekiel Machogu, Minister of Education, Kenya
  • Panelist 2: Hon. Muferihat Kamil Ahmed, Minister of Labour and Skills, Ethiopia
  • Panelist 3: Mrs. Hendrina Doroba (Division Manager for Education, Human Capital, and Skills Development, AfDB)
  • Panelist 4: Eng. Paul Umukunzi (Director General for Rwanda TVET Board)
Session 6: Investment in training equipment, digital infrastructure, industry partnerships and digital innovations in TVET

Moderator: Mrs Unami Dube, Senior Programme Officer, Institutional Development, AUDA

  • Panelist 1: Dr. Joseph Kanyi, Deputy Director State Department for TVET/ Kenya
  • Panelist 2: Dr. Xiaoyan Liang/ Lead Education Specialist, World Bank
  • Panelist 3: Prof. Sung Joon Paik, KDI School of Public Policy and Management
  • Panelist 4: Gideon Murenga, TVET and Labor Market Advisor /Kenya-GIZ Youth Employment and Vocational Training Project
Session 7: Presentation on Green Economy Future of Work

The keynote and subsequent panel discussion will discuss specific cutting-edge topics related to the green economy future of work, and implications for African universities, research institutes and private sector. Key issues to be highlighted will include the type of skills required for the future of work, policies needed to support innovations for a greener economy, entrepreneurial opportunities, and partnerships.

Keynote Speaker: Prof Winston Wole Soboyejo, President of SUNY Polytechnic Institute and PASET CAG member

Moderator: Kalkidan Tadesse, National Project Coordinator for EASTRIP/ Ethiopia

Rapporteur: Dr Richard K. Koech, Masinde Muliro University of Science & Technology (Rsif Alumnus)

Session 8: Break-out sessions to discuss green economy future of work based on Rsif thematic areas, bringing together PhD scholars, faculty, university representatives, international partners, industry, and other stakeholders.
Working Group 1: Food security and agribusiness

Moderator: Dr Timothy Njagi/ Development Economist, Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development, Egerton University, Nakuru, Kenya

  • Speaker: Dr Yifru Tafesse Bekele/ Head, State Capability, AGRA, Nairobi, Kenya
  • Panelist 1: Prof Irene Egyir/ AHU Coordinator – University of Ghana
  • Panelist 2: Prof. Elijah Ateka, Professor, Department of Horticulture and Food Security, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
  • Panelist 3: Dr. Richard Edema, Director, Makerere University Regional Centre for Crop Improvement (MaRCCI), Uganda
  • Rapporteur : Dr Sylvia Wairimu Maina, Researcher, Mt. Kenya University (Rsif Alumnus)
Working Group 2: Climate Change

Moderator: Prof El Hadji Bamba DIAW, DG of 2iE – Burkina Faso

  • Speaker: Dr Gabriel Rugalema, Regional Director, Eastern and Southern Africa Operations, World Vegetable Centre, Tanzania
  • Panelist 1: Dr. Tesfaye Lemma, Vice President of Research Affairs -Haramaya University, Ethiopia
  • Panelist 2: Prof Kone Daouda, Director, West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use, (WASCAL) , Université Houphouët-Boigny (UFHB) Ivory Coast
  • Panelist 3: Prof. Murtala Badamasi, Associate Professor at Bayero University Kano, Nigeria
  • Rapporteur : Dr. Mustapha Bello, Senior Lecturer, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
Working Group 3: Energy including renewables.

Moderator: Prof Stephen Gitahi Kiama, Vice Chancellor, University of Nairobi, Kenya

  • Speaker: Eng. Peter Waweru Njenga, CEO and Managing Director, KenGen
  • Panelist 1: Prof. Igor OUEDRAOGO, Senior Lecturer, 2iE, Burkina Faso
  • Panelist 2: Prof Francis Nyongesa, Chair, Department of Physics – University of Nairobi
  • Panelist 3: Prof. Sunday Sunday Ikiensikimam, Head of the Department of Petroleum & Gas Engineering University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
  • Rapporteur: Prof Julius Mwabora, Senior Lecturer, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Working Group 4: Artificial intelligence and data science

Moderator: Prof Kayihura Muganga Didas, Vice Chancellor, University of Rwanda

  • Speaker: Dr. Charity Wayua, Director, IBM Research Africa
  • Panelist 1: Dr. Damien Hanyurwimfura, Ag. Director, African Centre of Excellence in Internet of Things (ACEIoT), University of Rwanda
  • Panelist 2: Prof. Ezin C. Eugène, Director of the Training and Research Institute in Computer Science, University Abomey Calavi, Benin
  • Panelist 3: Dr. Maïssa Mbaye, Senior Lecturer, Université Gaston Berger, Senegal.
  • Rapporteur : Dr. Emmanuel Effah, Senior Lecturer, University of Mines & Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana (Rsif Alumnus)
Working Group 5: Mining, Minerals & Material Science

Moderator: Prof. Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, Vice Chancellor, AUST, Nigeria

  • Speaker: Prof. Josephat Zimba, Country Manager Karo Mining Holding,Zambia & SALENE Technologies, South Africa
  • Panelist 1: Dr. Mwemezi J. Rwiza, Senior Lecturer, Nelson Mandela African Institite of Science and Technology (NMAIST), Tanzania-
  • Panelist 2: Dr Vitalis Anye, Ag. Dean, African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Nigeria
  • Panelist 3: Dr Walter Njoroge, Senior Lecturer, Department of Physics, Kenyatta University, Kenya
  • Rapporteur: Dr Ruth Moirana, Lecturer, Nelson Mandela African Institite of Science and Technology (NMAIST) (Rsif Alumnus)
Session 9: Higher Education and Research Contribution to Africa’s Green Economy Future of Work

Moderator: Dr. Rachida Mamade, Director, Ministry of Science, Technology & Higher Education, Mozambique

Rapporteur : Dr Humphrey Andalo Mabwi, Lecturer, Masinde Muliro University of Science & Technology, Kenya (Rsif Alumnus)

  • Panelist 1: Mr. Ernest Chitechi, Corporate Services Manager, Kenya Climate Innovation Centre (KCIC)
  • Panelist 2: Prof Izael da Silva, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research & Innovation, Strathmore University, Kenya
  • Panelist 3: Prof. Kayihura Muganga Didas, Vice Chancellor, University of Rwanda
  • Panelist 4: Prof. Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, Vice Chancellor, Africa University of Science & Technology
Session 10: Conclusions and Next Steps

  • Next steps: Hon. Claudette IRERE, Chair of PASET Governing Council and Minister of State for Education, Republic of Rwanda
  • Closing: Hon. Ezekiel Machogu, Cabinet Secretary for Education, Republic of Kenya