Please Join Us for a Conference on Literacy and Education in 21st Century Africa

Presented by
Books For Africa and Global Spotlight Initiative, University of Minnesota's Office of International Programs

                

 

Literacy and Education in 21st Century Africa
Friday, October 2, 2009
Hubert H. Humphrey Center, Cowles Auditorium / Atrium
View map to Humphrey Center and parking information.

 

Online registration is now closed, but you can register at the door on Friday
(cash or check preferred).

Full-price tickets are $50.
Student and low-income tickets are $15.

 

We are pleased to announce that the keynote speaker for the conference will be U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson. Ambassador Carson is the Obama administration’s top official charged with directing U.S. policy toward Africa. He is a career diplomat, former Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania, and a lifelong friend of Africa. He previously served as the U.S. ambassador to Kenya (1999–2003), Zimbabwe (1995–1997), and Uganda (1991–1994) and in diplomatic posts in Portugal, Botswana, Mozambique, and Nigeria. Read full bio here.

 

We are also pleased to welcome special guest H.E. Ambassador Dr. Augustine P. Mahiga, the Permanent Representative of the United Republic of Tanzania to the United Nations. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conference Program:

1:00 –2:00 Registration, Vendor Booths Open

2:00 –3:15 Keynote Address by Ambassador Johnnie Carson, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs; Introduced by E. Thomas Sullivan, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost; Moderator is J. Brian Atwood, Dean of the University of Minnesota’s Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs

3:15–3:30 Coffee break

3:30 –4:45 Breakout Sessions:
                       ♦ Formal Education and Literacy
                       ♦ Health Education and Literacy
                       ♦ Economic Development and Literacy
                       ♦ Conflict, Human Rights, and Literacy

4:45 –5:00 Coffee break

5:00 –6:00 Closing Plenary with African Ambassadors

6:00 –7:00 Closing Reception

Breakout Sessions:

Opening statements of 7 -10 minutes with 30 minutes for Q & A.

View Speaker Biographies here.

Panel: Formal Education and Literacy: language of instruction; focus on primary, secondary, or post-secondary; production function; gender parity

• Moderator: Fran Vavrus, University of Minnesota, Dept. of Educational Policy and Administration
• David Chapman, Birkmaier Professor of Educational Leadership, University of Minnesota
• Felly Chiteng Kot, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Minnesota
• Suzanne Grant Lewis, Research Scholar, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York University
• Patrick Plonski, Executive Director, Books For Africa

Panel: Health Education and Literacy : maternal mortality and literacy; training of health care workers; impact of AIDS on education; cultural issues in health education; developing global health curriculum

• Moderator: Sarah Broom, Executive Director of Village Health Works
• Diana DuBois, Executive Director, Minnesota International Health Volunteers
• Trevor Gunn, Director of International Relations, Medtronic, Inc.
• Cynthia Howard, M.D., University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital
• Alan Lifson, MD, MPH, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

Panel: Economic Development and Literacy: economic development, education studies, and teacher incentives; illiteracy and economic development; education and training for an effective local workforce; entrepreneurship training/microenterprise

• Moderator: Claudia Parliament, University of Minnesota Dept. of Applied Economics, Minnesota Council on Economic Education
• Bradley Buck, Director of New Business and Practice Management, International Development, Land O’Lakes, Inc.
• Paul Glewwe, University of Minnesota Dept. of Applied Economics, Center for International Food and Agricultural Policy
• Tade Okediji, University of Minnesota Dept. of Applied Economics, Department of African American and African Studies
• Christopher Thomas, Sector Manager, Africa Region, The World Bank

Panel: Conflict, Human Rights, and Literacy: post-conflict education; education among refugee populations, rebuilding teacher training colleges; human rights and scare resources; refugee camps and education

• Moderator: Douglas Johnson, Executive Director, Center for Victims of Torture 
• Yusuf Ali, CEO, Somalia 2020
• Joan DeJaeghere, University of Minnesota, Dept. of Educational Policy and Administration
• Karlyn Eckman, University of Minnesota, Water Resources Center
• Daniel Wordsworth, American Refugee Committee

Conference Partners:

Books For Africa
Books For Africa is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving as the largest shipper of donated text and library books to the African continent. Since 1988, Books For Africa has shipped over 20 million primary, secondary, post-secondary, and community library books to 45 countries in Africa. Books For Africa has received the highest ratings from Charity Navigator and the Minnesota Charities Review Council. The mission of Books For Africa is to end the book famine in Africa.

University of Minnesota Office of International Programs Global Spotlight
Global Spotlight is the Office of International Programs’ biennial focus on a region of the world and a pressing global issue. In 2009-2010, the focus will be on the continent of Africa and the issue of Water in the World. OIP is the central coordinating international office for the University of Minnesota system, promoting the internationalization of the teaching, research, and outreach missions of the University.

Minnesota International Center
Minnesota International Center (MIC) has provided rich and varied opportunities for individuals from Minnesota and around the world to serve as citizen diplomats and to gain a deeper understanding of their place in the world community. Programs are designed to offer these connections to children and adults alike.

Minnesota Trade Office
The Minnesota Trade Office (MTO) promotes and assists in the expansion of exports and foreign direct investments that contribute to the growth of the Minnesota economy. Services are tailored for new exporters as well as experienced international companies, and include education and training, information and marketing, and counseling.