ASAF Board Meeting Cotonou and 3^rd Annual General Forum (AGF)

The ASAF Board met on 4 September 2024 to take stock of the organisation, review the annual plan and the Annual General Forum 2024 agenda. Six members of the Board were present, as well as the Erasmus+ Support Service Team. Each Committee (Regional Cooperation and Integration as well as Mobility Programme, Diversity and Inclusion) and Task Force (Professional and capacity development, membership promotion and activation, research and surveys, communication, international collaboration and cooperation, and internal affairs) reported on their unit activities, challenges and future plans up until the next Board election. The Board also reviewed the ASAF annual plan and its implementation strategy with the service provider.

The annual plan only covered planned activities until July 2025. The current Board will implement activities with members until the end of October 2024. The rationale for this delay in implementation of the annual plan is a result of the new service contract. In addition, the current Board will provide a smooth transition for the new ASAF Board.

On the same day as the Annual General Forum, a Co-Ambassador training was also held. The training covered different sessions including the roles of the Co-Ambassadors and priorities for the current support programme in 2024. The Co-Ambassadors discussed leadership styles, challenges in leadership and how to address these challenges using the ‘Intervision method’. The training was facilitated by Misheck Samakao, ASAF Board Member, and Maddalena Bearzotti, an external trainer and facilitator.

The AGF event kicked off with ASAF’s 3rd Annual Public Conference on 6 September 2024 in Cotonou, Benin. This was held at the Idriss Deby Itno Amphitheater in the Abomey-Calavi University. The conference was moderated by Dr Roshan Halkhoree and Dr Namikoye Samita Everlyne. The welcome session was hosted by Mrs. Gwladys Gnanvi, ASAF local Co-Ambassador and Dr Jackson Lontchi, ASAF Board member liaison officer for communication. Head of the Rector's Cabinet, Mr Juan Luis Barbolla Casas, representative of the European Union Delegation in Benin and a representative from the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, also extended their welcome.

The conference consisted of different panel discussions including a panel on “Africa-EU collaboration to promote quality education: Institutional cooperation and impact on the quality of higher education in Africa and the quality of human resources”, “Africa-EU collaboration to promote quality education: Perspective from networks of EU-funded students and alumni” and the Youth Mobility for Africa Flagship Initiative. Ms. Thandiwe Majama, ASAF Board gave the closing remark at the end of the conference.

On 7 September 2024, the main AGF event started with a welcome address by ASAF Vice-President, Alexandre Zoumman and moderated by Dr Yenesew Belew and Mrs Comfort Seum Ajaelu. In his welcome address he introduced the new service provider to ASAF members.

The Meeting of Members (MoM) started with a presentation of the ASAF structure, introducing Co-Ambassadors, Regional Coordinators, and Task Force speakers at the Forum. The ASAF Board presented the Board activity report for the period June 2023 to August 2024 to members present at the AGF. The new Erasmus+ Service Support for EU funding Alumni Network (role, responsibility, and content of the new contract) was presented by the service provider. ASAF’s early plan for the September 2024 – July 2025 period was presented by Dr Jackson Lontchi.

This year’s AGF featured ASAF AGORA sessions covering six different topics. Each ASAF Task Force, the Committee of Mobility, Inclusion and Diversity and Co-Ambassadors held parallel sessions to develop their plans and strategies for the coming years and invite new members to join such working bodies, so as to contribute to the network’s overall mission and vision.

The Meeting of Members (MoM) discharged the Board of their activity report and approved the newly voted RoP amendments during the AGF.

ASAF’s AGF was graced this year with several alumni and student networks including: Mr Milan Stojanovic, WBAA Board Member (Serbia Chapter); Mr Mohammed Ashqar, OCEAN Board Member and Head of International Coordination; Ms Ilaria Ballarini-, garagErasmus Vice-President; and Dr Md Aashiqur Rahman, EMA President. Their participation enriched the AGF as they presented their different networks to ASAF members and shared lessons and experiences on how their networks work.

These activities concluded with a beautiful cultural dinner at the Hotel Restaurant-Golden Tulip, organised by the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, showcasing the rich diversity of over thirty countries where ASAF is active. Awards were presented to ASAF members who have shown dedication and commitment since the last AGF during the evening dinner.

 

Cosmas Lambini, cosmas.kombat@asaf.africa
Brussels, Belgium, 07/10/2024
Edited by the Erasmus+ Support Service Team