The African Union Commission (AUC) and HP Inc. held a virtual signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 21 September 2020 to foster entrepreneurial learning in Africa. This MoU solidifies the collaboration between both entities in building entrepreneurial skills across the continent and to leverage HP Foundation’s Learning Initiative for Entrepreneurs (HP LIFE). HP LIFE provides young people in the African continent with access to 32 free, online courses in seven languages to build key business competencies as set out in the Agenda 2063.
The MoU was signed by AUC Commissioner for Human Recourses, Science, and Technology (HRST), H.E. Prof Sarah Anyang Agbor, and Mr. Issam Essadiqi, Interim Managing Director, HP Africa. The partnership between the institutions speaks directly to the 1 million by 2021 Initiative by providing educational opportunities that will assist in positioning African youth to venture into the entrepreneurial sector.
The Commissioner for HRST, H.E Sarah Anyang Agbor in her opening remarks said, “The partnership with HP Inc. will accelerate our education response to COVID-19 and beyond to ensure accessibly and continued learning for African youth. The African Union’s education agenda, which has a focus on digital learning is well complemented by the opportunities that the work with HP will bring about for African youth. In line with prioritizing distance learning, the partnership will support individuals and institutions of learning to provide the requisite expertise and opportunities.”
“HP is driving access to quality education globally to enable anyone and everyone to build skills to compete in the digital economy,” said Mr. Issam Essadiqi, Interim Managing Director, HP Africa. The partnership intends to make education more accessible and effective to African youth. In addition, this partnership will help African youth tremendously in getting better jobs, launching small businesses, and creating opportunities for their families and communities. This new collaboration between HP Inc. and the AUC will utilize technology as a great equalizer in education and is using it to enable students across the African continent to get access to quality education in the classroom and beyond.
The AUC and HP Inc. have agreed to exchange information and material on enhancing quality education for learners and entrepreneurs in Africa, organize symposiums and conferences on education and skills development initiatives, and leverage the HP LIFE online platform. The HP LIFE platform is aimed at ensuring that a million users are enrolled between 2016 and 2025 and is a part of HP’s commitment to enabling better learning outcomes for 100 million people globally by 2025. The MoU aims to ensure closer collaboration and exchange of information between the parties, in a manner that creates synergies in Youth Skills Development, Academic Exchanges, and Research in Africa.
The education sector in particular has faced severe disruption with education institutions in most countries having faced partial or full closures. This has necessitated the implementation of a new model of pedagogy to ensure that learning continues. Hence, this agreement is a significant milestone in our ongoing collaboration under the Education and remote learning support programme for Africa.
The collaboration will advance quality education, entrepreneurship, and digital learning for the African youth. “Together we can make a difference and with the partnership, we will transform Africa,” said Dr. Mahama Ouedraogo, Director of HSRT.
The virtual MoU signing was witnessed by the staff of AUC and HP Inc. The partnership with HP Inc. has brought free virtual learning opportunities under HPLIFE and BeChangeMaker Africa.
For further information, please contact:
Ms. Nontobeko Tshabalala, Communications Officer | Youth Division – HRST | African Union Commission | Tel: +251 911 3611 85, | E-mail: nontobekot@africa-union.org.
Follow us:- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/africa.youth/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AUYouthProgram Instagram: @auyouthprogram