EduWeek with SABC Education powered by Intel: Advancing educational knowledge in Africa

From left to right: Fani Matsebane (SABC Education, Formal Education Unit: Commissioning Editor), Videsha Propthveerajh (Intel Country Manager), Elijah Mhlanga (Department of Basic Education Spokesperson) and Tanya Jackman (Eduweek Event Director) at the announcement of EduWeek 2016's five-year partnership with the Department of Basic Education in Sandton.

The partnership with the Department of Basic Education was born out of shared vision for all South African’s and African’s to have access to lifelong learning, as well as education and training. EduWeek has a strong focus on all areas of education from Foundation Phase through to Tertiary & Higher and the endorsement from the DBE will undoubtedly strengthen the existing content on offer as well as providing educators and education professionals with an annual public event to engage with key spokespeople from their Government.

EduWeek will provide the Department of Basic Education with a platform to share on the topics of but not exclusive to early childhood development, teacher training, inclusive education, the implementation of digital technology and safety in schools and also promoting health & sustainability. The DBE will hold a dedicated space within the exhibition whereby they will collaborate with their public and private sector partners to showcase the very best of South African innovation in science, technology and the general manufacturing of educational products and services.

Event Director, Tanya Jackman, says, “EduWeek prides itself on delivering an annual event which directly responds to the needs and expectations of the industry. Our long-term partnership with the DBE will continue to ensure that EduWeek remains at the forefront of advancing educational knowledge in Africa and in turn contributes towards improving the quality of life for all our educators and learners”

“The Department values partnerships and we believe that this platform will also contribute to the improvement in the quality of education in South Africa. Various stakeholders share best practices and innovations that can be used to improve quality learning and teaching,” sad Elijah Mhlanga, Head of Communications at the Department of Basic Education.

The theme for EduWeek with SABC Education powered by Intel for 2016 is Sustainable Development in Education. This theme has been chosen to reflect EduWeek’s support of the United Nations’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals and UNESCO’s Global Action Plan (GAP) which focusses heavily on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Education for Sustainable Development is focused on allowing every human being to acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary to shape a sustainable future. Education for Sustainable Development means including key sustainable development issues into teaching and learning; for example, climate change, disaster risk reduction, biodiversity, poverty reduction, and sustainable consumption. It also requires participatory teaching and learning methods that motivate and empower learners to change their behaviour and take action for sustainable development. Education for Sustainable Development consequently promotes competencies like critical thinking, imagining future scenarios and making decisions in a collaborative way. This requires far-reaching changes in the way education is often practised today.

EduWeek intends to play a key role in promoting this change. The event plays host to 150 education product and solution providers that exhibit over the two-day event, including leading global brands such as Intel, Pearson and Microsoft. Entrance to the event is completely free and over 4,000 educational professionals attend the two-day indaba, of which 2,100 will be decision makers comprised of; principals, Heads of Department (HOD’s) and university deans. The event has become recognised as the difinitive educational event in Africa and therefore also draws upwards of 450 VIP delegates, made up of provincial and national Government, Vice-Chancellors and international decision makers. With over 40 countries represented in terms of attendees and exhibitors, EduWeek is a truly international event, with international standing.

The format of the event is a two-day exhibition in which there are five dedicated conference theatres, each of which will host two full days of free content dedicated to one of the following five themes:

• Early Childhood Development

• Basic Education
  
• Higher Education
  
• Inclusive Education
  
• Educational Technology (E-Tech)

Each of these theatres and themes will be hosted by experts in their field, allowing delgates to learn about the latest developments and trends by industry leaders as well as local educational professionals. The EduTheatre sessions have been intricately designed to not only inspire and enthuse a passion for education, but also to provide attendees with practical take homes that they can apply in their own teaching environment. Live demos also form part of the event and these offer educational profiessionals a chance to interact and learn about the latest trends and developments in educational technology.

Another highlight of the EduWeek calendar is the EduWeek Awards which take place on the evening of the 29th June. The EduWeek Awards recognise excellence across the African education ecosystem. From the inception of the most innovative and life-changing products and/or services to our local heroes who go above and beyond to assist their communities and the lives of our precious learners. To enter the EduWeek Awards or nominate a worthy recipient, visit: http://www.educationweek.co.za/awards/.

With all of these elements on offer, EduWeek is the largest and most recognised African education event with purchasing opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa, where public and private stakeholders can gather to discuss future solutions and critical issues surrounding the education sector in Africa as well as evaluate, see and buy new solutions for their education institution’s needs. Says Tanya Jackman, Event Director of EduWeek, “EduWeek has grown tremendously in ten years, from a small local conference into Africa’s largest education exhibition. It has established a powerful reputation in the education industry hence the reason why many of the leading brands, key industry stakeholders and government organisations choose to exclusively partner with us. Our vision is for all educators to have access to free hands-on training and practical advice as well as direct access to the leading solution providers so that they can ask technical questions and in turn provide valuable insight, which will drive the next evolution of products or innovations. The ten-year anniversary is an important milestone for EduWeek and we look forward to celebrating this with the industry in June.”

EduWeek with SABC Education powered by Intel takes place on the 29th and 30th June from 10am – 6pm at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand. For more information, visit: www.educationweek.co.za.