The Association of African Universities is inviting all Higher Education Institutions across the continent to celebrate the 2019 African Universities Week which comes off from 11 -15 November 2019.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Towards a Peaceful and Secure Africa through Quality Higher Education”. It seeks to bring to the fore, the critical role that African higher education institutions and stakeholders need to play to foster peaceful environments towards promoting development and the attainment of the “Africa we want” by 2063.

This year’s theme draws its inspiration from the overall vision for Africa based on the aspirations of African Countries as articulated in the Agenda 2063. The theme for the 2019 African University week celebration also seeks to bring together the entire higher education community and major stakeholders in Africa to map out strategies, methodologies and the place of quality higher education in the promotion of peace and security toward Africa’s unity and renaissance in line with the 4th Aspiration of Agenda 2063: A peaceful and secure Africa.

Peace and security are a major responsibility for all and demand a multi-stakeholder approach in all interventions, of which higher education is not an exception. War and conflicts of any kind are a threat to global peace and security. The key to uprooting the underlying causes of these conflicts and insecurities is an informed and enlightened citizenry.

From topical seminars, debates, exhibitions, social media conversations, conferences, webinars and several interesting events, the variety of events hosted by Higher Education Institutions over the years has been as inspiring as ever. The 2019 celebrations promise to be even more insightful.

In Ghana where the AAU Secretariat is hosted, the 2019 AU Week will be celebrated at the Secretariat on the 12th November 2019. The program will include a high-level panel discussion on the theme of peace and AAU Television Studio Discussions on the theme.

The 2019 AAU Week will also be celebrated by the AAU East Africa Regional Office at the University of Khartoum in Sudan, the North Africa Regional Office at Al-Azhar University, Egypt and by individual AAU member institutions and all African Higher Education Institutions in general.

AAU suggests that university management circulates information concerning the hosting of events to mark the AU Week to Ministries of Education, University Councils, Committees of Vice-Chancellors and all institutions involved in the management of Higher Education Institutions. Other public and private universities in each country which are non-members of the AAU, research institutions, the media and general public should also be invited to join the celebrations to give visibility to the week and promote the activities of Higher Education Institutions in each country.

More information about the African Universities Week is available in the concept note which is accessible at . Institutions are encouraged to plan their independent events on their campuses to mark this key week on the AAU’s Calendar.

AAU - The Voice of Higher Education in Africa!!