The 7th International Conference on ICT for Development, Education and Training will be held in Cotonou, Benin, from May 23rd – May 25th, 2012, and the call for papers is now open. A conference and exhibition covering every facet of Information and Communication Technology for education and training, eLearning Africa is an annual event not to be missed, an event that has long attracted the who’s who of African academia, business and government. It is a lively forum for participants to share information, insights and ideas.
ICTs are useful in all spheres of life: in governance, in education (both formal and informal) and in all sectors of economic development, including business, banking, agriculture and the health sector. Learning about how these technologies can be incorporated into all sectors of the economy is a key aim of eLearning Africa, and thus the conference is a gathering of various stakeholders, be they educators and academics, manufacturers, marketers, service providers, legislators and policymakers.
Papers
Preparations for the May 2012 conference are underway, and ICWE is inviting discussion papers from all disciplines of enquiry especially original material which resonates with the conference theme: eLearning and Sustainability. The development of sustainable infrastructure and overall capacity building in Africa will be important focus areas, as will be the promotion of eLearning for sustainability in the community, in change management, in the use of resources, in economic development, and in culture and society at large. The deadline for the submission of proposals is Friday 9 December 2011.
The conference will feature plenary discussions where world-renowned experts will share their research findings on present and future directions in eLearning. There will also be special focus sessions, exhibitions, practical demonstrations, discussions, debates, and many informal networking opportunities. As the conference is held in English, French and Portuguese, it draws visitors from across Africa and, as in past eLearning Africa events, there will be many participants from the rest of the world.
Sponsorship and exhibition
Since this is a useful platform on which to market ICT-related products and services, opportunities for sponsorship are available. eLearning Africa attracts buyers, suppliers, and decision-makers from many fields, thus giving start-ups and established organisations alike instant visibility within a lucrative setting. The conference venue—the spacious Le Palais des Congres de Cotonou—is a modern architectural masterpiece inspired by the traditional tata somba house building style of the Ditamari people of Benin. This lends a spectacular backdrop to the conference and exhibition.
Detailed information on signing up for the May 23rd to 25th, 2012 conference is available here.
