Annual conference"Universities, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa"

African countries are amongst five of the world’s twelve fastest growing economies, with foreign direct investment five times what it was a decade earlier. For its people and for those who want to invest in the future of Africa, the continent offers new opportunities.

Entrepreneurship has proved to be one of the main contributors to economic growth over the years. The start-up and growth cycle of companies is related to the socio-economic benefits of the global world at large. For growth and social change, increasing entrepreneurial projects are fundamental. By seizing opportunities, assuming risks, addressing challenges and taking action, entrepreneurs build value and are also a source of income and livelihood for a majority of the populace, especially in developing countries. In developing and commercializing new innovations, entrepreneurs take chances in ways that larger corporations do not. These innovations sometimes open up whole new markets and change industries.

In supporting the flow of opportunities for venture creation, especially in the consumer goods and food processing industry, universities play an important role in mobilising resources for entrepreneurship and start up activities. In the past, students were usually trained for occupations established by others through university education. However, in order to build new generations of entrepreneurs, universities must provide curricula, facilities and incentives, as well as collaborate with existing businesses and government to achieve the maximum impact when it comes to entrepreneurship development.

This conference aims specifically at bringing together participants from academia, business, and other stakeholders interested in the interplay between education and economic development. It is a forum for researchers and practitioners alike. Thus, the event is a response to the popular request to build bridges of communication between the worlds of education.

Several countries have adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as part of global commitments to promote development. Adopting the SDGs means being more inclusive and advocating for environmentally sensitive economic development. Improving the quality and relevance of higher education, promoting self-employment, and producing a skilled labor force is pivotal in achieving the development goals of the African continent. Therefore, it has become evident that improving the quality of education in many African higher education institutions must emphasize the human relationship with the planet. Students undergoing training and young graduates need a collective awareness of the implications of their beliefs and values on the earth. They need to be equipped with the right tools and productive skills to enable and sustain economic development.

The Universities, Entrepreneurship, and Enterprise Development in Africa (UEED Africa) conference aims to showcase and promote sustainable innovations that address Africa’s most pressing challenges. The conference addresses cross-cutting issues such as gender equality, social inclusion, and digital innovation, recognizing their integral role in advancing sustainable development in Africa. It encourages holistic approaches considering the interconnectedness of social, economic, and environmental dimensions. The conference aims to foster collaboration and facilitate partnerships and networking opportunities among diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector entities, civil society organizations, and academia, towards achieving shared sustainability goals.

The conference theme embodies the imperative of sustainability in driving innovation and progress in Africa. By emphasizing sustainable practices, technologies, and policies, the conference seeks to unlock opportunities for economic growth, social equity, and environmental stewardship across the continent. It serves as a dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge exchange platform, empowering participants to contribute to Africa’s sustainable development agenda.

Within the framework of the project ART4Dev—Applied Research and Teaching for Sustainable Development in Africa, the Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences (H-BRS) organizes, together with the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, Mount Kenya University, MOI University, Kenya, and the Institute of Financial Management, Tanzania, the 12th UEED Africa conference. The ART4Dev project is financed by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and administrated by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). In 2024, the UEED Africa conference will be held online.

The conference theme “Sustainable Pathways: Driving Sustainable Innovations in Africa” is structured into seven subthemes. They serve only as an orientation for contributions to the conference. All contributions related to the conference theme are welcome, also those which cover more than one subtheme, and those which cannot clearly be assigned to one of the subthemes.