For the first time, East Africa welcomed the International Consortium for Education Development (ICED) Conference 2024, held in Nairobi, Kenya, from June 5 to June 7. This landmark event, co-hosted by the Association for Faculty Enrichment in Learning and Teaching (AFELT), convened global educators and academic leaders under the theme “Advancing Higher Education Ecosystems for Competency Development.”
Academic developers from North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australasia presente
d papers, led workshops and debated on the role of ‘third space individuals’ in advancing quality higher education.
Among the participants were members of AKU’s Network of Quality, Teaching and Learning (QTL_net) team. Their contributions demonstrated innovative approaches to equipping faculty with essential digital skills, addressing pedagogical dilemmas, and exploring creative e-learning strategies.
The QTL_net team also focused on strategies for creating robust teaching quality ecosystems and highlighted the benefits of voluntary professional development on teaching practices and student learning. These sessions underscored AKU's commitment to educational excellence and innovation.
Key sub-themes of the conference included "The Elements of Ecosystems That Support Learning for The Future," "Design Ecosystems That Nurture the Competencies That Our Graduates Should Exhibit," and "Build Capacity Among Ourselves To Navigate And Influence These Ecosystems." These topics stimulated rich discussions on the future of higher education and the competencies required for graduates to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
The conference featured notable keynote speakers who offered profound insights into creating sustainable and effective educational ecosystems. Among them were Dr Donna Ellis from the University of Waterloo; Professor Angela Owusu-Ansah, an expert in education in Africa and the U.S.; Prof Mike Kuria, CEO of the Commission for University Education in Kenya; Dr Mays Imad, a Gardner Institute Fellow; and Dr Kasturi Behari-Leak, Dean of the Centre for Higher Education Development at the University of Cape Town.
The ICED Conference 2024 in Nairobi was a resounding success, setting the stage for future collaborations and innovations in higher education. ICED is the only forum of its kind, bringing together an international community of educational/academic developers and their network organisations.