UNESCO-ICHEI’s Post

I’m excited to share my recent article in Republica, 𝗔𝗜 𝗔𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆: 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱, which is a shorter version of my Capstone Project for the Authoring Justice Course with the Global Campus of Human Rights. This narrative explores the realities of AI in Nepal through the stories of young innovators like Darshan P. with TeachMeAI, Prabhat K. with Juriease, a legal chatbot tailored for Nepal and Bishal Kharal, a young engineer from Nepal. Their journeys reveal both the promise of AI and the barriers of high costs and limited access. This piece is a call to action: addressing Nepal’s place in AI means bridging our knowledge and investment gaps. With the dedication of youth, there’s hope—but only if we prioritize local solutions and resources. 👉 Read the full article for a closer look at the future Nepalese youth envision in this AI era. Link: https://lnkd.in/dzs5CV4y #AIAnxiety #Nepal #FourthIndustrialRevolution #DigitalDivide #AIforAll

ICYMI: UJ Vice-Chancellor Professor Letlhokwa George Mpedi discusses the transformative impact of AI and related technologies on education and the workforce. He highlights the urgency of evolving curricula to address critical issues like climate change and sustainability. Professor Mpedi also emphasizes the unique challenges South Africa faces, including a national unemployment rate of 33% and a youth unemployment rate above 45%. With graduate employment among youth under 10%, he calls for urgent action to transform talent cultivation and ensure future success. A thought-provoking piece on the need for change in our educational and employment systems. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dms5q-jK #UJAllTheWay #AI #EducationForTheFuture #YouthUnemployment #UJ4IR

I like how we continue to drive conversations centred around (SDG4) Education, most especially the Nigerian Education system. Over the years, EdPower Network has continually shown how much they are invested in reshaping the perception of the public toward teachers, by organising programs that will benefit Teacher’s Professional Development. The students also are not left behind, because we know that it takes two to tango. Students discipline vis a vis academic achievement, was the focus of the second conference which led to some vital policy reformation in Lagos state. Interestingly, most members and executives are/have been seasoned teachers of public schools, doing great things from small place. Now, we are discussing utilising AI for excellence. Would you rather belong to somewhere else?

#EducationWilly Mayambala, as a presidential candidate in Uganda, has proposed significant reforms in the education sector. He believes that education is a fundamental right for all Ugandans and should be accessible, affordable, and of high quality.Mayambala has proposed several policies aimed at improving the quality of education and increasing access to education. He has emphasized the importance of investing in teachers and improving teaching quality to enhance the learning outcomes of students.Mayambala has proposed a curriculum that is more relevant to the needs of the Ugandan economy and society. He plans to introduce technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programs that will develop skills for the job market and promote entrepreneurship. Additionally, he aims to provide STEM education to Ugandan children to prepare them for a rapidly evolving technological world.Mayambala has also proposed increasing investment in higher education institutions to boost research and innovation, enhancing collaboration between universities, and bridging the gap between academia and industry.Lastly, Willy Mayambala has pledged to increase the number of scholarships, bursaries, and learning resources in Uganda to make education more affordable and accessible. He believes that investing in education will be a game-changer for Uganda, lifting the country out of poverty and into a prosperous future.Created with: https://lnkd.in/gzwgnGiT

📌 Welcome to the AI-THOS LinkedIn page! 🔍 About what is the project? Here are project objectives in the nutshell: "To promote the principles of ethics and research integrity, engage participants and their social networks in discussion about the significance of these principles in scientific practices, and, finally, encourage the cultivation of a research ethics and integrity culture in Europe that will eliminate moral/ethical implications and strengthen trust in science and technology; to improve systematic and broad education in ethics and research integrity with a special emphasis on the use of artificial intelligence technologies." The projects will develop the following results: -AI-THOS Train-the-Trainer programme for equipping HEIs educators, -AI-THOS Curriculum to develop students’ ERI competences that will be implemented in universities and online through webinars in Poland, Greece, Lithuania, Slovenia -AI-THOS online course -Set-up of the AI-THOS Knowledge-Sharing Community 👉 Stay tuned to find out more about this exciting project! #AITHOS #ERI #EthicsResearchIntegrity #AIEthics #EthicsInScience #AILiteracy #TrainTheTrainer #science #moralimplications

Did you know? According to UNESCO millions of children worldwide struggle with basic reading, writing and numeracy skills. About 250 million children aged 6-18 are out of school, and African children are five times less likely to learn these basics skills than their peers in other regions. This International Literacy Day, we are proud to be highlighting our ongoing three-year ‘Transforming Africa through Education’ campaign, which contributes to closing the literacy gap across the continent. It is part of our flagship Ecobank Day initiative, and is concentrating on equipping children with the knowledge and skills they will need to reach their full potential. This year, our Ecobank Day theme is 'Ignite Learning with AI', and we will be focussing on how artificial intelligence (AI) can help improve foundational learning - literacy, numeracy and basic digital skills - among Africa’s young children. Follow us here to learn how we are supporting communities across Africa. #EcobankDay2024 #TransformingAfrica #LiteracyDay

🌍 “We… don’t have African Universities. We have universities in Africa.” - Sabelo J. Ndlovu-Gatsheni In this TDL article, Maraki Shimelis Kebede, Ph.D. highlights the critical need to tailor educational solutions to the context in which they exist. Historically, the imposition of foreign education models has consistently perpetuated the deficit perspective of Africans—and this simply doesn’t work. What you may not know is that African nations are, and have been, actively decolonizing their education systems for years. Specifically, by integrating diverse knowledge systems and cultural perspectives. What about the future? As we look forward it’s undeniable that AI is becoming an increasingly dominant force in education. But, many AI technologies come from US-based companies, often reinforcing colonial legacies. So, what do we do? For one, scholars call for "decolonial AI," where marginalized communities actively participate in developing and deploying AI models. This ensures outcomes align with their needs and values. As it stands, Africa is home to a growing number of AI developers and organizations that are making significant contributions to the field and, as Dr. Kebede puts it, this is “a sort of rooted revolution towards homegrown innovations.” By investing in locally-driven technologies and fostering innovation within African communities, we can position Africa as a leader in EdTech. It's time to stop mining Africa for data and start looking to her for leadership in innovation. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ePrHqsue #EducationInnovation #DecolonizeEducation #EdTech #AI

Recently had a meeting with Joan Mwachi of EdTech East Africa, a #TeachAI partner, in which she highlighted AI happenings across East & Southern Africa. The region currently lacks comprehensive AI policies (welcome to the club), yet there are many initiatives for responsible AI development. Here are some highlights: 🔍 The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) are supporting policymakers in Eastern Africa in crafting ethical AI frameworks. 🔍 The State of AI in Africa Conference (March 2023) brought stakeholders together to discuss responsible AI governance. 🔍 Kenya's Strathmore University's Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (CIPIT) is at the forefront, pushing for AI policy development that’s inclusive and equitable. KICTANet 🔍 There is a proposed bill in Kenya, the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Society Bill, 2023, aiming to regulate AI development, though it faces challenges in the Senate. STEAMLabs Africa, Felix Malombe 🔍 South Africa is crafting a national AI strategy, reflecting deep consultations with experts. 🔍 Ethiopia has established an AI institute focusing on national AI policies and regulations. 🔍 Rwanda anticipates finalizing its National AI Policy by 2024, highlighting a structured approach to embracing AI. APRI - Africa Policy Research Institute Folks are figuring out how AI can serve as a tool for societal progress, balancing innovation with digital rights and digital inclusion. https://lnkd.in/dH8VzyVn #AIinAfrica #ResponsibleAI

It was an honor to present a paper on the vital role of educational institutions in nurturing an environment where AI can thrive, drive economic growth, and address social issues at the NITDA Nigeria Co-create 2day event in Lagos, Nigeria. Integrating AI-related courses into the curriculum equips students with the necessary skills to work in the field of AI. Conducting research in AI can lead to new technologies that drive economic growth and address social issues. Collaborating with industry partners aligns AI programs with industry needs, making students more employable. Most importantly, I talked about an area my team and I at GetBundi has been championing; Indigenizing digital skills training through AI. This can lead to impactful innovations that address local challenges. Educational institutions can play a key role in nurturing an environment where AI can thrive by providing students with the skills and knowledge they need, conducting research that advances the field, and addressing the ethical and social implications of AI. Africa's digital transformation presents endless opportunities for its people, and investing in the right areas today can lead to a brighter future tomorrow. #nitda #getbundi #edtech #aiadoption #innovation #tech #nigeria #africa #digitalskillstraining #digitalskillsdevelopment #indigenizingai #techsis2024

#CentralAsiaPolicyDialogue Dr. Djamshid Sultanov, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at Tashkent University of Information Technologies TUIT, Uzbekistan, stated that "the policy dialogue offers a space for stakeholders in Central Asia and beyond to exchange valuable insights and explore the integration of AI into higher education. It's time to consider how to pioneer the AI paradigm shift, empowering humans to focus on high-value creations that demand creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence".