University of Toronto & Africa Virtual Forum

Monday, May 15, 2023 | 8:00 am  to 11:30 am (EST) or 12 (noon) to 3:30pm (GMT)

In June 2022, The University of Toronto & Africa Summit brought together University of Toronto leaders, African diplomatic community, African university leaders, partners and organizations to discuss areas of shared interests and Africa’s higher education priorities. Participants explored ways to strengthen partnership in four areas: (i) research partnerships, (ii) entrepreneurship and innovation, (iii) talent development, capacity enhancement, and next-generation networks, and (iv) co-learning, teaching networks, and next-generation leaders. Participants agreed upon a set of principles and priorities to guide future partnerships, and ways to improve current and future collaborations.

This forum will feature keynote panels, interactive breakout sessions, and discussions designed to establish concrete ideas for collaboration, projects and joint funding opportunities for Africa-based initiatives. This virtual forum will bring together international partners including leaders, faculty, and staff from leading African institutions, associations, and foundations to explore concrete international collaborations and build on the lessons and priorities identified in the last Summit.

During the forum, participants will:
•    Establish areas of common interest for collaboration
•    Share opportunities for collaboration
•    Explore funding opportunities, and
•    Explore areas of joint advocacy to facilitate scholarly and other engagements
 

Biographies: Click here.

Agenda

Times are listed in Eastern Time (ET)

8:00 - 8:10am | Opening and Welcome 
Prof. Wisdom Tettey, Chair of the Presidential International Council for Africa, Vice-President, University of Toronto and Principal of the University of Toronto Scarborough 

8:10 - 8:20am | Recap: University of Toronto & Africa Summit 2022: Lessons & Priority 
Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, Secretary-General, African Research University Alliance (ARUA)

8:20 - 8:25am | University of Toronto & Africa Summit 2022: Principles of Engagement
Prof. Joseph Wong, Vice-President, International, University of Toronto

8:25 - 8:55am | Keynote: Global Affairs Canada’s Approach to Engagement with African Partners
Mr. Antoine Chevrier, Assistant Deputy Minister (Sub Sahara Africa), Global Affairs, Government of Canada

8:55 - 9:25am | Plenary Panel: Global Collaborations in Action

• Chair: Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA)
• Prof. Mabel Nangami, Former Dean, Health Sciences, Moi University, Kenya
• Dr. Carol Nonkwelo, Senior Director, Research and Innovation, University of Pretoria, South Africa
• Prof. Katherine Rouleau, Director, WHO Collaborating Center on Family Medicine & Primary Care, Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of Toronto

9:25 - 9:30am | Introduction to Breakout Discussions
Dr. Penina Lam, Director, International Relations, Africa, University of Toronto

9:30 - 9:35am | Break

9:35 - 10:35am | Breakouts (concurrent sessions)

1. Energy Transitions & Climate Change (9:35 - 10:35am)

• Chair: Prof. Amy Bilton, Associate Professor, Director, CGEN, University of Toronto
• Dr. Francis Kangure, Senior Research Fellow, Strathmore University, Kenya & RTI International, United States
• Dr. Jasper Grosskurth, Managing Director, Dalberg Research
• Prof. Izael Da Silva, Deputy Vice Chancellor Research & Innovation, Strathmore University, Kenya
• Mr. Simon Gosling, Managing Director, EnergyNet
   

2. Health & Wellness (9:35 - 10:35am)

• Chair: Prof. Erica di Ruggiero, Director, Centre for Global Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
• Dr. Catherine Kanari, Universal Health Coverage Lead, Amref Innovations, Amref Health Africa
• Hassan Ali Ahmed, Associate Director of Nutrition, Global Lead for SMART Initiative
• Dr. Joanne Korir, Associate Director, Health Equity Group Foundation, Kenya
• Prof. Tandi Matsha-Erasmus, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic and Research, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, South Africa

3. Data Science & Artificial Intelligence (AI) (9:35 - 10:35am)

• Chair: Prof. Lisa Strug, Director, Data Sciences Institute, University of Toronto
• Prof. Kevin E. Yousie, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Institute for Management & Innovation, University of Toronto Mississauga
• Prof. Julius Butime, Dean, School of Computing and Engineering Sciences Strathmore University, Kenya
• Prof. Vukosi Marivate, Dean & ABSA Chair of Data Science, Assoc. Professor, University of Pretoria, South Africa

4. Leadership & Governance  (9:35 - 10:35am)

• Chair: Dr. Catherine Chandler-Crichlow, Dean, School of Continuing Studies, University of Toronto 
• Prof. Ann Lopez, Educational Leadership and Policy, OISE; Director, Centre for Leadership and Diversity, Co-Director, Centre for Black Studies in Education, University of Toronto 
• Mr. Antony Miceli, Executive Director of Corporate and Foundations Relations, Division of University Advancement, University of Toronto 
• Dr. Beth Waweru, Group Director, Strategic Human Capital, Equity Group Holdings PLC
• Crista McInnis, Regional Senior Trade Commissioner of Eastern Africa, High Commission of Canada, Kenya
• Dr. Purity Gitonga, Senior Research Fellow, Strathmore University, Kenya

5. Entrepreneurship (9:35 - 10:35am)

• Chair: Dr. Paul Santerre, Professor & Director of the Health Innovation Hub (H2i), Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
• Dr. Charles Kimpolo, Director, AIMS Industry Initiative & Head, Next Einstein Forum AIMS
• Mr. James Fraser, CEO, Madiro Health
• Mr. Richard LaBelle, Entrepreneurship Consultant
• Katusha De Villiers, Senior Project Manager, Bertha Health, Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, South Africa

10:35 - 11:00am | Global Advocacy for access to publications

• Chair: Ms. Antonia Pop, Vice President, Publishing Division, UT Press, University of Toronto
• Ms. Ann Gabriel, Senior Vice President for Global Strategic Networks, Elsevier
• Dr. Dancan Irungu, Dean of Graduate School, Amref International University (AIU) and Director, AIU Enterprises
• Prof. Olusola Oyowole, Secretary General, Association of African Universities (AAU)

11:00 - 11:25am | Breakout Debrief

• Chair: Ms. Gwen Burrows, Assistant Vice-President, International Engagement & Impact, University of Toronto
• Prof. Amy Bilton, Associate Professor, Director, CGEN, University of Toronto
• Dr. Catherine Chandler-Crichlow, Dean, School of Continuing Studies, University of Toronto 
• Prof. Erica di Ruggiero, Director, Centre for Global Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto 
• Prof. Lisa Strug, Academic Director of the Data Sciences Institute, The University of Toronto, University of Toronto
• Prof. Paul Santere, Professor & Director of the Health Innovation Hub (H2i), Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto

11:25 - 11:30am | Closing Remarks
Prof. Alexie Tcheuyap, Associate Vice-President and Vice-Provost, International Student Experience, University of Toronto

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