AVU signs MOU with African Union Commission

NAIROBI, 5 April, 2012 - The African Virtual University (AVU) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the African Union Commission (AUC). The partnership paves the way for the AVU to widen the use and understanding of its eLearning initiatives across Africa. The MOU also enhances AVU's reputation as the leading ICT in Education institution in Africa. His Excellency Professor Jean-Pierre Ezin, the AUC Commissioner for Human Resources, Sciences Technology, and Dr. Bakary Diallo, Rector of the AVU signed the document. 

"This partnership between the AVU and the AUC is significant on two levels. First, it represents a partnership with the entire continent. Secondly, and perhaps even more importantly, it signifies that Africa is now firmly embracing the need to put in place alternative structures that will guarantee access to quality education for all", commented Dr. Diallo. 

Under the terms of the MOU, AUC and AVU agree to promote education and the innovative use of ICT in Africa, in particular through eLearning program delivery with focus on teacher education, content development, infrastructure, quality assurance, open education resources, capacity building and networking.

The partnership with the AU Commission follows closely on the heels of a US$15.6 million grant awarded in January by the African Development Bank. The grant allows AVU to assist 22 African countries in improving their infrastructure and programs, and to provide technical assistance on their ICT in education policies and strategies. The grant will also support a peace and conflict resolution program, research and development with focus on mobile learning, open educational resources and gender mainstreaming through the award of scholarships to women enrolled in science programs.
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Founded in 1997, the African Virtual University (AVU) is a Pan African Intergovernmental Organization whose aim is to significantly increase access to quality higher education and training through the innovative use of Information and Communication Technologies.
The AVU has graduated 43,000 students across Africa and established the largest network of Open Distance and eLearning institutions in over 30 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Its greatest asset is its ability to work across borders and languages in Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone Africa. The AVU is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya with a regional office in Dakar, Senegal. www.avu.org