The ASAF Meeting of Members started with some kind words from the ASAF President who termed ASAF as “another mobility after academic mobility” and called all members to join our efforts and think together. After some important announcements, the day was marked by the online participation of the European commissioner, Fiorella Perotto, who gave important information about EU support to the Erasmus + programme in general and to alumni networks like ASAF in particular. This session was rich in interactions from members who raised important questions related to the implementation of  support via the Service Provider and the aspect of the further formalisation of ASAF.

Then followed the session about the rich activities of ASAF in the past six months like: webinars, capacity building trainings, membership promotion activities, scholarship promotion events, task force meetings, establishment of ASAF working bodies (task force co-speakers, regional coordinators, committee for diversity and inclusion…). This was followed by a presentation of the next steps for the rest of the year. The members elected in the working body positions were confirmed by vote by the general assembly present and online participants, as well as the ASAF report and future plan. An important moment was the session about the implementation of the ASAF statutes and Rules of Procedure where the responsible taskforce presented a strategy to collect feedback and ideas from members to improve the legal documents of ASAF.

We then had the privilege to have with us the representatives of three dear cousin networks (EMA, OCEANS, and WBAA) who shared some nice words about their respective networks and the potential collaboration possible with ASAF. An important announcement about the launch of a call for ASAF projects was done by the Service Provider, with 15 possible projects to be financed by ASAF this year. The last working session was a close discussion in breakout rooms of the different working bodies of ASAF (Co-Ambassadors and task force groups) to closely brainstorm and develop  the activities of the groups with a short report shared at the end of the day. The day ended with an inspiring wrap up by the moderators and the networking dinner that followed.

 

Youssoufou Daouda, on behalf of the organising committee

Edited by the Service Provider

Kenya, Nairobi, 02/06/2023