Tanzania: Kikwete to Open eLearning Africa Conference

By Staff Writer

DAR-ES-SALAAM----President Jakaya Kikwete of the United Republic of Tanzania will open this year’s eLearning Africa conference scheduled for May 25 at Dar-es-Salaam’s Milimani City Conference Centre.  The opening plenary session will include keynote speeches on the role of ICTs, addressing the crisis in education, skills development and employability among African youth by Jim Adams, Regional Vice President, East Asia and Pacific Region, The World Bank, USA, Lieut. Gen. Karlheinz Viereck, Deputy Chief of Staff Joint Force Training, NATO, Tarkan Maner, President and Chief Executive Officer, Wyse Technology, USA and Emanuel Feruzi, Managing Director, Tri Labs Limited, Tanzania.

Meanwhile, exciting opportunities for learning innovation are on the horizon in Africa, says Michael Trucano, the World Bank's Senior ICT and Education Policy Specialist, who will deliver a keynote speech at eLearning Africa 2011. New submarine cables and backbone networks promise a new era of affordable, high speed broadband connectivity; eBooks offer a 'huge potential'. New methods such as serious games for Africa or 'interactive mobile phone instruction' need to be explored. Michael will elaborates on how learning, skills development and innovation can be further unleashed with the support of ICTs.