Windhoek, Namibia – August 14, 2024
The African Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Network was officially launched during the 2nd RUFORUM Triennial Conference, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of higher education in Africa. The event took place in Windhoek, Namibia, with the participation of key stakeholders from universities across Africa and Europe.
This new network is part of a broader effort to enhance the quality and relevance of higher education in agriculture, spearheaded by the ABC BlendEd project—an Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) initiative coordinated by the Polytechnic Institute of Porto (IPP). The ABC BlendEd project, in collaboration with the ATHENA alliance through IPP, HMU, and USIEGEN, has been instrumental in bringing innovative educational methodologies to African institutions.
The Vision Behind the Network
The African PBL Network aims to transform the educational landscape by promoting Problem-Based Learning (PBL) as a core approach in higher education. PBL emphasizes student-centered learning where students engage in solving real-world challenges, thus bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical application. The network’s objectives include raising awareness of PBL, fostering collaboration between academia and industry, and aligning educational outcomes with market needs to boost employability among graduates.
A Collaborative Launch
The launch event was a highlight of the conference, featuring presentations and discussions on the successes and challenges of deploying PBL in both African and European contexts. Contributions from various universities underscored the effectiveness of PBL in addressing local and global challenges, particularly in agriculture and related sciences.
Speakers included Nuno Escudeiro from the Polytechnic Institute of Porto, who discussed the global impact of blended mobility and PBL, and Prof. Basil Mugonola from Gulu University, Uganda, who shared insights on adapting challenge-based learning for community development in post-conflict regions.
Looking Ahead
The establishment of the PBL Africa Network is a continuation of the work initiated by the ABC BlendEd and PBL Bio-Africa projects, which have already made significant strides in improving educational practices across the continent. The network will serve as a platform for ongoing collaboration, innovation, and scaling of PBL methodologies across African universities.
Participants in the network will work together to develop a work plan and position paper to further advocate for the adoption of PBL in higher education across Africa, with the support of RUFORUM and national higher education authorities.
