University Education for Transformative Leadership in Africa

In partnership with Mastercard Foundation, the Talloires Network launched the University Education for Transformative Leadership in Africa (UETLA) Faculty Support Grants. We are pleased to host an international Selection Committee that chose the 10 grantees and two honorable mentions from a pool of 28 applicants in Africa. The cohort represents some of the most unique and innovative programs in university-community engagement.

About the Faculty Support Grant Program: Seeks to support the ongoing learnings of the Youth Economic Participation Initiative, launched in 2012 to catalyze change in the way universities across the globe prepare their students for economic life after graduation. The purpose of this program is to support those efforts by documenting the work of university education for transformative leadership at African institutions, with an emphasis on outcomes of education strategies for youth leadership and employability. It also seeks to reinforce the broader goals of the Talloires Network and strengthening knowledge exchange. The program aims to reinforce the Talloires Network 2014 Call to Action, by “expanding and strengthening university efforts to prepare their students for civic and economic participation and active citizenship – to educate students who are effective and successful global citizens.”

Download the UETLA Program Report!

Grant Winners

Elvis Akomoneh, Department of Health Sciences
Saint Monica University, Cameroon
Saint Monica Health Center Franchise Project, in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health in Cameroon.
The project was initiated in September 2013 and aims at developing a franchise system, whereby graduates of the Saint Monica University (SMU) nursing and physician assistant programs will be able to establish health centers across the country, especially in underserved areas, thereby providing much needed health care in remote areas, while providing jobs for these health care professionals and strengthening the local economy.

Sunitha Chandrasekhar Srinivas, Faculty of Pharmacy
Rhodes University, South Africa
Maternal and Child Health partnering with St. Mary’s Development and Care Center
This initiative focuses on the Millennium Development Goals which address infant and child mortality and maternal health in South Africa. The program identifies maternal health issues of women in rural villages and seeks to provide educational interventions for healthy mothers and children.

Efiti Filliam, School of Media Technology
LivingStone International University, Uganda
Internship partnering with the Bungokho Rural Development Centre
This innovative internship program gives Ugandan students opportunities to gain relevant experiences in their career field and exposure to determine if they have genuine interest in the field. It gives students the opportunity to have a “hands-on” experience with modern and contemporary practices in a dynamic economic work environment.

Martina Jordaan, Department of Informatics
University of Pretoria, South Africa
Community-based Project Module partnering with the Stanza Bopape Health and Community Centre
This is a flagship module of the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology at the University of Pretoria. It is an eight-credit module (80 hours) offered on an open-ended and project-orientated basis. It gives all undergraduate students a structured, educationally sound experience in community engagement, service-learning and reciprocity with a community organization. Learn more on the program YouTube and Facebook.

Phumelele Eleanor Kunene-Ngubane, Institute for Rural Development and Community Engagement
Mangosuthu University of Technology, South Africa
MUT Student Volunteerism Project partnering with the Ikamva Youth Organization
Founded in 2013, the project encourages students to be involved with community initiatives on a voluntary capacity. It seeks to create graduates who are responsible and conversant in community ethics.

Anthony Leone, The Rhetoric and Composition Department
The American University in Cairo, Egypt
The Quartet of Course and Civic Engagement Conference Project partnering with the African Hope Learning Center
This annual project involves four academic courses with a semi-annual conference on civic engagement held at a partner university in Beirut, Lebanon. The project, which includes the Quartet and the Conference, all work together to enhance the opportunity for students to become active citizens who are agents for community change. And the project represents a manifestation of the sincere belief in the relationship between good scholarship and human development.

Rwida Matar, School of Management Studies
Ahfad University for Women, Sudan
Creating Opportunities for Youth Employment partnering with the Babiker Badri Scientific Association for Women Studies
This program prepares students of all levels with soft skills to effectively interact with people from diverse backgrounds. The ethical leadership component teaches student to examine their views, values and biases in order to respond effectively to situations arising from diversity in their communities. It offers skills training to promote positive interactions and create awareness and encourage the use of community resources.

Janice McMillan, Centre for Higher Education Development
University of Cape Town, South Africa
Deliberate Pedagogy in the Community: Developing Citizen Leaders in Higher Education partnering with the Development Action Group
Founded in 2010 as a commitment by the University of Cape Town to grow active, global citizens with a commitment to work for social justice, citizenship and leadership.

Olive Mugenda, School of Applied Human Sciences
Kenyatta University
Kenyatta University Growing Leaders Programme partnering with Brilliant Technologies
The programme aims at inculcating transformational leadership skills and positive attitudes in young people, in preparation for their life after school. This is done by encouraging innovativeness and the ability to adapt in the world outside class and the vision to create own opportunities to advance both self as well as others in the society. 

Dina Wafa, School of Global Affairs and Public Policy
The American University in Cairo, Egypt
Future Generations in Economic Development in Egypt and the Arab Region partnering with CARE-Egypt
This program strengthens economic advocacy of students at all levels in Egypt and the Arab region, focusing on access to information, creating a participatory approach and public policy reform.

Honorable Mentions

Ayman Ismail, School of Business, Department of Management
The American University in Cairo, Egypt
AUC Venture Lab: Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem for Egyptian Entrepreneurs partnering with Nahdet el Mahrousa
V-lab was established as an entrepreneurial incubator for students and non students that educates youth leaders in the form of entrepreneurs principles of running a startup successfully towards becoming effective and successful global citizens using university faculty and facilities.

Lourens Botha Grove, UP Law Clinic, Procedural Law, Faculty of Law
University of Pretoria, South Africa
Practical Law / UP Law Clinic
This experiential learning course enables students to engaged practical legal experience in nearby communities by providing free legal services.