From May 31 to June 2 2021, the International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI) was invited to participate in a virtual workshop on ''Strengthening Networking in Quality Assurance in Africa and Developing Continental Mutual Recognition Guidelines for Quality Assurance Agencies'' held in Cairo, Egypt. The meeting was organised by UNESCO Headquarters and UNESCO Cairo Office for the implementation of Component 3 of the UNESCO-Shenzhen Funds-in-Trust Project in Africa (UNESCO-SFIT Project in Africa), which aims to develop and approve the Mutual Recognition Guidelines for Quality Assurance and Qualifications in Africa.

Ms Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, Dr. Ayman Ashour, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Egypt and Ms Maki Katsuno-Hayashikawa, Director for the Education 2030 Division of UNESCO attended the meeting and delivered speeches. Prof. LI Ming, Director of UNESCO-ICHEI, Prof. LIM Cher Ping, Chief Expert of International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) and Chair Professor at the Education University of Hong Kong, Ms. BI Xiaohan, Chief of West Asia and Africa Programme Office, Ms. ZENG Bingran, Chief of Knowledge Production and Communications Centre, Dr. ANDOH Hoba, Senior Education Specialist and Mr. CHEN Dean, Programme Officer of West Asia and Africa Programme Office also attended the meeting.

Prof. LI Ming, Director of UNESCO-ICHEI and UNESCO-ICHEI staff attended the workshop

On June 1, UNESCO-ICHEI was invited to take the floor during the workshop. Prof. Li Ming, Director of UNESCO-ICHEI, pointed out that the workshop would help UNESCO-ICHEI to better understand the implementation of Component 3 of UNESCO-SFIT Project in Africa, as well as networking of quality assurance agencies and mutual recognition of qualifications in Africa, which would provide useful guidance for UNESCO-ICHEI. Then, Prof. Lim Cher Ping delivered a keynote speech entitled ''How to strengthen Quality Assurance for Online and Blended Education in African HEIs'', focusing on the objectives, contents and implementation of the IIOE Quality Assurance Guidelines and Toolkit 2.0 (IIOE QA 2.0). IIOE QA 2.0 was developed by UNESCO-ICHEI to assist African universities in improving the capacity and quality of online and blended teaching, which is complementary to the Mutual Recognition Guidelines for Quality Assurance and Qualifications in Africa, Prof. Lim said. Professor Lim's speech received positive feedback from quality assurance experts in African countries. The participating experts noted that online and blended teaching is one of the areas that need to be strengthened in African higher education and discussed how to apply IIOE QA 2.0 in practice in African universities.

Prof. LIM Cher Ping, Chief Expert of IIOE and Chair Professor of the Education University of Hong Kong, delivered a keynote speech during the workshop

Over 50 participants attended the workshop, including chiefs, experts and directors from UNESCO, the International Association of Universities, quality assurance networks and national quality assurance agencies in Africa. Participants adopted the Mutual Recognition Guidelines for Quality Assurance and Qualifications in Africa and the Cairo Statement. The Cairo Statement summarised discussions during the workshop and clarified the objectives of promoting mutual recognition of quality assurance agencies and qualifications in Africa.

The UNESCO-SFIT Project in Africa will be concluded by the end of this year. UNESCO-ICHEI will collaborate with UNESCO Headquarters to conclude the Project, evaluate the Project, organise an outcome meeting, and publish relevant research outcomes on quality assurance in Africa.

Group photo of all the participants

UNESCO - Shenzhen Funds-in-Trust (SFIT) Project: Strengthening Quality Assurance in Higher Education in Africa:

In 2015, the Shenzhen People's Municipal Government and UNESCO signed the Framework Funds-in-Trust Agreement between the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government and the UNESCO regarding Support to UNESCO's Activities in favour of Higher Education Development in Asia and Africa.

The UNESCO - SFIT Project was launched in 2017, with the aim to enhance higher education quality and facilitate internationalisation of higher education in Africa. The Project has 3 components:

1. Support the establishment of new quality assurance agencies in Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, and Togo.

2. Institutional capacity-building of recently established QA agencies in Egypt, Gambia, Malawi, Namibia, Senegal, and Zambia.

3. Consolidate the Quality Assurance Networks in Africa.

The Project will be concluded by December 2021. UNESCO-ICHEI will collaborate with UNESCO to plan and organise the project outcome meeting and develop outcome publications.