Africa Day 2024 at UEF

Africa Day is the annual commemoration of the foundation of the African Union, which took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 25th May, 1963. Africa Day is celebrated around the world and is an opportunity to appreciate and mark the African continent’s diverse history and heritage, while acknowledging its cultural and economic potential.

At the University of Eastern Finland, Africa Day represents an opportunity to acknowledge a diverse and important group of scholars and academics who enrich and make a valuable contribution to education and research in and on Africa. This year we shall celebrate Africa Day on May 23, since the actual date falls on a weekend.

The official theme for Africa Day 2024 is ‘Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa.’

We shall have a series of different activities and communications about our collaborations with our African colleagues, partner institutions and networks from 22.05.2024 – 24.05.2024. Further information below and on our social media #AfricaDayUEF.

Contact person: Roseanna Avento, email roseanna.avento(at)uef.fi.
 

Wednesday 22.05.2024 

17.30-19.00 Kuopio Kahawa & Chai by the Finnish-Kenya Society 

Kahawa & Chai (Coffee & Tea) meets by the Finnish-Kenya Society are free meetings open to all with a link and interest in Kenya. This is the second ever Kahawa & Chai meeting held in Kuopio. Welcome to join in hearty discussions and sharing experiences about Kenya. 

Venue: Ramin konditoria (Kauppakeskus Sektori) Puijonkatu 23, Kuopio
 

Thursday 23.05.2024

10:15-11:00   Africa and The National Archives of Finland

Venue: The National Archives of Finland, Yliopistokatu 6 A, Joensuu

African history, particularly focusing on the history of East Africa and Namibia, has been a major research subject at the UEF Joensuu Campus since the mid-1970s. Since then, research on Africa has expanded to include economic, environmental, and demographic issues, as well as education and remote sensing. Research materials have been systematically collected since the early 1980s, resulting in extensive collections of both published and unpublished materials deposited at the National Archives of Finland and the UEF Joensuu Campus library. During UEF Africa Day, the National Archives in Joensuu will organize an introduction to the collections and materials in general, with a special focus on the Africa collection.

12.00-13.00 Bridging Education, Sustainability and Digital Innovation 

Venue: Online, Join via this link: 

UEF and the Association for Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)  present a webinar focused on digital innovation for education, Glocal approaches for sustainability and the opportunities for equality and equity. 

• Opening words

Abdoulaye Sall, Project Officer, Association for Development of Education in Africa

• Keynote

Shem Bodo, Senior Programmes Officer, Association for Development of Education in Africa

• Panel Discussion

  Shem Bodo, Senior Programmes Officer, Association for Development of Education in Africa

  Satu Järvinen, Founder and CEO, SkillSafari Ltd

  Bertha Haimbodi, Senior Education Officer, National Institute for Educational Development, Namibia

  Professor Sari Havu-Nuutinen, University of Eastern Finland

• Closing words: Roseanna Avento, Global Development Manager, University of Eastern Finland

The main language of the event is English and French. However, during the event, Teams translation technology will be utilised, and participants can choose from numerous different language options for text translation.

Shem Bodo has over 15 years’ experience in policy development support, education sector analysis and capacity development of national Education Management Information Systems (EMIS). As Senior Programmes Officer, since joining the ADEA Secretariat in June 2015, he has brought a wealth of knowledge and experience in strategic leadership and management. He also coordinates ADEA’s Task Force and Inter-Country Quality Nodes (ICQNs) in programme implementation. He continues to be the ADEA focal point to the African Union in the implementation of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa 2016 – 2025 (CESA 16-25).

Abdoulaye Sall has more 20 years of experience in education and training. In his earlier role as a school administrator for ten years, he has been able to establish strong relationships with partners who have heavily invested in education. This activity allowed him to gain experience in administrative and financial management, planning and the introduction of ICT in education systems. His managerial skills have allowed him for several years, to coordinate peer-review activities. He has solid experience in the management of public or private projects (co)financed by international organisations. At present, he is the Project Officer of the Inter-Country Quality Node for Higher Education and Scientific Research (ICQN-HESR) of ADEA.

Satu Järvinen is the Founder and CEO of SkillSafari, a company focusing on validating skills with open badges in emerging economies. Born in Finland, raised in Senegal, educated in Finland and France, Satu Järvinen is a mixture of north and south. With over 15 years of experience in education innovation, development and research, she strives to create localised and scalable learning solutions that allow people to reach their highest personal potential and reach their dreams. From primary school children to working adults needing support in developing their careers and lives, Satu strives to bring joy of learning and a sense of positive direction to people within her reach. Satu is passionate about good coffee and loves to discover the riches and secrets this fantastic world of ours has to offer. Her guiding values in life are: Discovery, Immersion, Communality, Openness and Joy

As Senior Education Officer, Bertha Haimbodi is responsible for reviewing, monitoring, supporting the implementation of junior primary curricula (grade 1-3) and works on 7 syllabi for all subjects at the junior primary phase. She was a teacher at the foundation level for 14 years before her current position at NIED.

Sari Havu-Nuutinen is a Professor in Education, especially early years education and has as Doctorate Degree in Education.  She is the Head of Department at the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education at the University of Eastern Finland. She is involved e.g. in minor studies of pre-primary education, international master’s degree programmes and postgraduate studies in education. She has more than 20 years’ experience in teacher education in Finland and actively participates in curriculum development in teacher education. She is an internationally collaborative researcher in her research field addressing young children’s teaching and learning in science education. She has participated in science education research and developmental projects internationally and nationally. In addition, she leads national school related projects related to science education and flexible learning environments. She worked as a Fulbright scholar (ASLA Fulbright senior research grant) at Ohio University in 2015.

14.00-15.30  Pathways to Progress- Enhancing Education, Research and Business Connections between Ghana and Finland 

In this event, the Honorary Consul of Finland to Ghana Professor Elikem Nutifafa Kuenyehia will give a keynote and engage in a fireside chat with Peter Zorve (CEO, EduZolve Ltd), Isaac Adaam (Regional Manager, Bittium Biosignals Ltd) and Jyri Wuorisalo (RDI Advisor, Savonia University of Applied Sciences). 

Streamed online, join via this link 

Professor Elikem Nutifafa Kuenyehia is a professor of practice, corporate lawyer, entrepreneur, and business advisor with over 15 years of experience in advising international companies in respect of investments in Africa. He is best known for founding Oxford & Beaumont Solicitors, a globally recognised leading law firm that merged with ENSafrica in 2015 to create Africa’s largest law firm. Prior to starting Oxford & Beaumont, he was part team that established United Bank of Africa Ghana and earlier in his career, worked as an International Banking lawyer at the London office of Linklaters LLP. Legal 500 named him a law firm leader clients consider to be ‘at the pinnacle of the legal profession in Ghana’ and has previously been named a Young Global Leader by World Economic Forum and West Africa Young Business Leader the Year by Forbes/CNBC. Considered a thought leader of entrepreneurship in Africa, he is Professor of Practice at University of Buckingham in the UK and author of ‘Kuenyehia on Entrepreneurship. For ten years, he taught entrepreneurship at Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. He currently serves on the boards of Access Bank Ghana Plc, Goldkey Properties Limited, Sentinel Asset Management Limited and State Interests and Governance Authority (where he represents the President of Ghana). He has held non-executive board positions at Google Ghana, Hollard Insurance Ghana, and Chase Petroleum.Professor Kuenyehia is the Honorary Consul of Finland in Ghana and founder of Kuenyehia Prize for Contemporary African Art which identifies West Africa’s most outstanding visual artists and supports them with finance and mentoring.  Kuenyehia earned a BA in jurisprudence from the University of Oxford and an MBA in entrepreneurship, marketing, and finance from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.   

Dr. Peter Zorve is a versatile professional, blending academic prowess with entrepreneurial spirit. Motivated by a vision to enhance the educational system and help improve students' performances in West Africa, Peter co-founded EduZolve Oy alongside Olusegun Akinyemi. Together, they strive to make a meaningful impact on the region's youth and educational system. With a Ph.D. in Chemistry and a solid foundation in Computer Science, he brings a wealth of expertise to his role as both a co-founder and software developer. In his capacity as a software developer at EduZolve Oy, Peter harnesses his academic background and practical experience to craft robust, scalable, and user-centric software solutions. His unwavering commitment to excellence and relentless pursuit of technological innovation shine through in every project he tackles.

Isaac Adaam serves as the Middle East and Africa Regional Manager for Bittium Biosignals Limited, Finland, a role that has seen him advocating for a paradigm shift in heart rhythm diagnostics powered out of hospital Holter technologies like the FDA and CE-approved innovative 4-in-1 ECG technology from Bittium. Isaac believes the current healthcare system especially in developing economies does not offer possibilities to reach the most vulnerable of society, a reason why he believes in value-based healthcare that should be propelled by smart healthcare business models. Isaac Adaam is an UEF alumnus, having completed his master’s degree in international economic law in 2019.

As an RDI advisor at Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Jyri Wuorisalo specializes in human security and sustainable development. He coordinates the Human Security Finland network, an international development and crisis management business network focuses on climate security.

Filo Africa Day 15.30-18.30 

Meet UEF Africa projects and researchers working on teacher education and education development. The event is also part of the Global Innovation Network for Teaching and Learning and the EduCASE platform networks. 

Venue: Metria Building Lobby and Café, Yliopistokatu 7, Joensuu 

Friday 24.04.2024

11.00-12.00 Open lecture: Sustainability in the fashion industry Ghana

The University of Eastern Finland and the Kuopio Academy of Design (Kuopion Muotoiluakatemia) are proud to offer the stage to Kwame Aniagyei Amoabeng, Founder and CEO of Odina Couture where he will introduce a case-study of sustainability in the fashion industry in Ghana. 

Odina Couture is a Ghanaian contemporary affordable clothing brand for meticulous men, based in Accra. Odina Couture provides quality aesthetic apparels and gift services to a growing list of highly satisfied clients varying from corporate organisations to private individuals.

Venue: Kuopion Muotoiluakatemia, Piispankatu 8, Kuopio0 Kuopio

Kwame Amoabeng is a dynamic and visionary leader in both the fashion and human resource sectors. With over a decade of practical experience as a human resource business partner in the oil and energy industry, Kwame combines his creative flair with strategic acumen. Born into a humble family in Osenase, a small town in Ghana's Eastern Region, Kwame's journey is one of dedication and excellence. Kwame's educational background is impressive and diverse. He graduated from the Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast and then pursued higher education in Russia, earning a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Management Science from Voronezh State University. Furthering his studies, he obtained a Master of Science in Transport and Maritime Management from the University of Antwerp in Belgium and recently completed a degree in Management and Social Entrepreneurship from the esteemed University of St Andrews, UK. Kwame's passion for fashion was ignited during his time in Europe, where he was captivated by the power of personal style as a form of storytelling. He began sketching clothing designs, organizing fashion shows, and celebrating African culture through fashion. Today, Kwame is the CEO and Creative Director of ODINA, a brand synonymous with affordable luxury and impeccable quality. ODINA is renowned for its world-class designs, top-quality fabrics, and exceptional customer service. Under Kwame's leadership, the brand has garnered a diverse and loyal clientele, earning numerous accolades both in Ghana and internationally. Notably, Kwame won the business start-up challenge in St Andrews and the Fife area and received an honorary award for his contributions to sustainable fashion in Ghana. Kwame Amoabeng's journey from a small town in Ghana to the global fashion stage is a testament to his talent, hard work, and visionary leadership. His ability to merge his expertise in human resources with his passion for fashion makes him a unique and influential figure in both industries.

UEF Africa researchers

Get to know some of the researchers at UEF who partner with Africa on UEF Connect. Check out the section on Experts by Region and choose Africa! https://uefconnect.uef.fi/en/group/global-development/

African Student Stories

We have over 200 African students currently enrolled at UEF, over 100 master’s students and about 100 doctoral researchers. They come from 22 different African countries. Here are some of their stories:

• Mariam Maku Quarshie from Ghana.
• Isaac Doughan from Ghana.
• Christian Muragijimana from Rwanda.

Read more about UEF degree programmes offered in English.

African Student Exchange Stories

UEF collaborates through the Erasmus + Global Mobility programme to implement student mobility with the following African universities in Cameroon: Pan African Institute of Governance, Egypt: Pharos University, Eritrea: National Higher Education and Research Institute; Ghana: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Ghana, University of Development Studies, and CSIR College of Science and Technology, Kenya: Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Morocco: University of Ibn Zohr and Al Akhwayan University,  Mozambique: Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Namibia: University of Namibia, Nigeria: University of Lagos, South Africa: STADIO University and University of Limpopo, Tanzania: College of Business Education, Uganda: Makerere University. The UEF School of Pharmacy also have an opportunity to complete some of their pharmacy practical training in Ghana.

• See what Namibian exchange student Gebhardt Kanime from the University of Debrecen, Hungary has to say about his exchange at UEF.
• See what Ghanaian exchange student Mina Poku-Agyemang from CSIR Ghana has to say about her exchange at UEF.

African Alumni Stories

Over the years, over 1000 Africans from 30 different African countries have studied at UEF.  Here are some of the stories of our African alumni.

• Jimmiel Mandima from Zimbabwe.
• Emma Kwegyir-Afful from Ghana.
• Victor Nyange from Kenya.
• Tanke Aba Samson from Cameroon.

Join the UEF Alumni network here!

Networks

Finnish University Partnership for International Development (UniPID)

UniPID supports engagement with Africa and other parts of the Global South. Some examples of the support provided to enhance this collaborations include:

• UniPID Virtual Courses.

Many courses soon opening up for registration. Courses are open to students and exchange students at UniPID member universitites

• UniPID DocNET. The Finnish development research doctoral network.
• UniPID Infobank is a multidisciplinary expert and project database with researcher profiles and collaborative project descriptions to facilitate knowledge exchange, communication and cooperation opportunities.
• UniPID Toolkit for global academic partnerships.
• UniPID ethical guidelines for Global South collaboration

Southern Africa Nordic Centre (SANORD)

SANORD furthers multilateral academic cooperation between the southern Africa and Nordic regions and helps strengthen the capacity of all member institutions to address new local and global challenges of innovation and development. SANORD’s annual conference in 2024 will be held from 4th to 6th December in Cape Town at the University of the Western Cape. More information from the website. https://sanord.uwc.ac.za/news/university-of-the-western-cape-to-host-2024-sanord-annual-scientific-conference/

Podcasts and blogs

Co-designing learning solutions in Africa, for Africa, with Africans

Hear from our researchers in the School of Computing at UEF, Doctoral Researcher Satu Järvinen and Dr Friday Agbo discuss their work on development of learning solutions in different parts of Africa.

Dr Friday Agbo, who recently completed his PhD, tells us about his doctoral research, which focused on how to teach computational thinking to novice computer science students. Satu Järvinen, on the other hand, has just started her research. The aim of her doctoral thesis is to understand the opportunities and challenges of skills micro certification in Africa. Podcast available on Soundcloud.

Read more about the IMPDET - PhD studies in Education Technology that supports this research.

Detangling Development Podcast (UniPID) : Finland’s Role in Global Sustainable Development

In this episode we take a look at Finland's role in global sustainable development with Teppo Eskelinen, philosopher and senior lecturer in Social Sciences at UEF. Listen to the episode here.

Detangling Development, is a 7-part podcast series brought to you by UniPID, to dive deeper into important themes that bridge between the activities of universities and the aims of sustainable development by interviewing a guest with expert insight or research in the specific topic. Find the podcast here.

Blog post

Roseanna Avento, Global Development Manager at UEF reflects on UEF and Africa relations and partnerships.

Read more here.