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The COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected the way that education is conceived and delivered worldwide. As institutions in South Africa adapt to the new learning environment and consider implications for students, faculty, and staff, technology plays a critical role in enabling successful outcomes both today and in the future.&nbsp;&nbsp;



That’s why OneConnect and Anthology have partnered to support the South African education community and help more students and institutions achieve their goals. With a holistic approach to education technology that’s focused on delivering dynamic, data-informed experiences, OneConnect and Anthology are breaking down silos and connecting critical systems to open up a world of new possibilities for learning.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Blending Data with Experiences&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>



A learner doesn’t exist inside one system alone, and neither does an institution. By bringing together data and insights across core solutions, the right technology can help educators develop a deeper understanding of students to deliver more personalised experiences tailored to meet the needs of each learner. This also helps institutions drive operational efficiencies and meet objectives around critical areas like enrolment, retention, and engagement.&nbsp;&nbsp;



And learners are hungry for more personalised experiences. According to a global survey recently fielded by Anthology, 66% of learners agree that their university views them as individuals with unique needs and preferences, but most learners express a desire for even greater personalisation. For example, 70% would like to receive more reminders of deadlines and other key information, such as a notification about an outstanding bill or when to register for classes, as they would be more likely to complete the task on time or if prompted. And 71% would like to receive recommendations about which courses to take and when to do so during their academic career.&nbsp;



More personalised experiences can also provide the support needed to keep students on track toward achieving their goals. Survey results indicate 40% of students strongly agree that they would like to receive more support from their university to be successful. Aligning that support to the areas in which students feel they need it is critical. More tailored financial aid and career-focused support top the list.&nbsp;



Higher education leaders are nearly unanimous in their perspective on the potential impact that blending data and experiences could make. 94% globally agree that a holistic view of learner data pulled across multiple systems would benefit their team and help more students achieve their goals. The same percentage of higher education leaders are also actively looking for new opportunities to aggregate and analyse learner data to drive more insights.&nbsp;



“By considering student feedback and investing in technology resources to deliver more personalisation across everything from course delivery options to career services, higher education leaders can position their university to provide an experience that meets the needs of today’s learners—and those of tomorrow,” said Jim Milton, Chairman and CEO, Anthology.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“We believe that education technology solutions allow students in rural and remote areas access to the same quality of education as a child attending the best private school in the city. Furthermore, that student can interact with peers across the country and the continent; be exposed to new ideas and new opportunities, benefitting from the diversity and richness of their engagements. Our aim is to also help education institutions see that they can grow their businesses beyond brick and mortar and do so quickly – breaking down “walls” to reach students beyond their physical geography, through sophisticated solutions that make administration and teaching seamless,&#8221; said Rogers Sithole, MD of OneConnect Education.&nbsp;



Learners want and expect technology to be more prevalent in their higher education experience and university leaders are keenly aware of opportunities to adjust course delivery and enhance technology. In fact, according to the same global survey, 60% believe their institution lacks some of the appropriate digital learning tools to help learners succeed. Perhaps more importantly, 17% of global leaders believe that the technology resources provided by their university do not match up with learner needs in a way that adequately supports their studies. But those same leaders clearly recognise a shifting landscape, with nearly 60% confident that more classes will be available online in the next five years.&nbsp;



Institutions recognise the urgent need for new education technology as well as aligning their current tools to the changing landscape of digital learning. To that end, 45% of higher education leaders have maintained the same technology but significantly changed the way administrators, faculty, and students rely on digital resources, likely due to shifts associated with the pandemic.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The good news is that universities are on the right track according to learners’ expectations of how technology is incorporated into their experience. For example, 73% of students globally prefer to submit assignments in an online portal, and 70% indicate they often or always submit assignments this way. 70% of students also prefer to receive instructor feedback on assignments through an online platform, and 66% of students indicate they often or always receive feedback this way. As universities continue along the path to fully supporting learners, more investment in technology is necessary. University leaders are cognisant of this need, and more than half are considering additional investments. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-partnering-for-progress">Partnering for Progress&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>



OneConnect delivers Anthology’s comprehensive suite of education technology solutions to institutions across the African continent. Trusted by more than 150 million learners, educators and administrators in +80 countries, Anthology offers a holistic ecosystem designed to help create an inspiring and infinite world of learning without boundaries. In partnership with the African education community, OneConnect and Anthology are shaping the future of learning through technology.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Get to know us and explore the possibilities. <a href="http://www.anthology.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.Anthology.com</a> OR <a href="http://www.oneconnect.co.za/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.oneconnect.co.za</a>

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Supporting The African Education Community To Achieve Its Goals Through EdTech

JOHANNESBURG, May 25 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;Africa risks sliding into stagflation &#8211; a cycle of slow growth and high inflation &#8211; as it battles the lingering effects of the pandemic and rising fuel and food prices caused by the Ukraine conflict, the African Development Bank (AfDB) said on Wednesday.



Despite experiencing relatively low death rates compared to more developed regions, Africa was dealt a heavy economic blow by the COVID-19 pandemic.



While 2021 saw a continent-wide rebound, with gross domestic product (GDP) growth estimated at 6.9% after a pandemic-induced contraction of 1.6% the previous year, the Bank projects real GDP growth to slow to 4.1% this year.



&#8220;The deceleration in growth highlights the severity of the impact of the Russia–Ukraine conflict on Africa&#8217;s economy,&#8221; the AfDB wrote in its 2022 African Economic Outlook.



&#8220;If the conflict persists, Africa&#8217;s growth is likely to stagnate at around 4 percent in 2023.&#8221;



Inflation is meanwhile expected to accelerate to 13.5% this year, from 13% in 2021, due to a sharp rise in energy and food prices linked to the war in Ukraine.



The AfDB estimates around 30 million Africans were pushed into extreme poverty and 22 million lost their jobs last year alone as a result of the pandemic.



Vulnerable populations, particularly in urban areas, will bear the brunt of rising prices, the report said, adding that economic disruptions stemming from the war could tip nearly 4 million more into extreme poverty this year and next.



&#8220;In the absence of measures to cushion the impact, this could stoke social tension across the continent,&#8221; the report stated. &#8220;But in many African countries, fiscal space remains constrained by the effects of the pandemic.&#8221;



The AfDB forecasts Africa&#8217;s debt-to-GDP ratio to stabilise at around 70%, down slightly from 71.4% in 2020, due to last year&#8217;s growth recovery and debt relief measures, but will remain above pre-pandemic levels.



(Reporting by Joe Bavier, Editing by Louise Heavens)

AFDB_Logo

Africa risks stagflation due to pandemic, Ukraine war – AfDB￼

The COVID-19 pandemic and the current shock to the system from the war in Ukraine have left African economies hanging by a thread.



National debt <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/04/30/debt-repayment-costs-are-rising-fast-for-many-african-countries">has reached distressed levels</a> across the continent, with even formerly high-performing economies such as Ghana, Egypt, and Tunisia on the verge of defaults, bailouts, or both. &nbsp;



Next week’s <a href="https://africities.org/about-the-summit/">9th Africities Summit</a>, in Kisumu, Kenya, will therefore be taking place against a particularly gloomy macroeconomic backdrop.



Yet Kisumu itself – a vibrant, upcoming city which has become a hub for international trade – should give delegates real cause for optimism.



Indeed, Kenya has benefited from being an <a href="https://www.kara.or.ke/Kenya%27s%20Popular%20Version%20on%20New%20Urban%20Agenda.pdf">early adherent</a> of the <a href="https://unhabitat.org/the-new-urban-agenda-illustrated#:~:text=The%20New%20Urban%20Agenda%20highlights,or%20renewal%20policy%20and%20strategy.">New Urban Agenda</a>: UN-Habitat’s armoury of solutions for helping states, city planners and communities to manage urban challenges and needs, whether that’s planning, financing, waste management and housing.



These solutions have evidently been of value to Kisumu, and I believe the Agenda could not be more relevant for African policymakers navigating such perilous economic headwinds.



Why? Because while urban areas <a href="https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/2020/10/wcr_2020_report.pdf">constitute 55% of the global population</a>, they account for more than 80% of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP).



In other words, our cities are an engine of economic growth – growth that Africa needs badly and needs now.



However, while the most must be made of the undeniable dynamism of our urban areas, choosing to live in a city cannot be a zero-sum game. No African should ever have to expose themselves to environmental and social strife to climb the economic ladder.



Put simply, our mission must be the resilience and the sustainable economic growth of our cities: the key that can unlock a more prosperous, equal and secure future for all Africans.



Our team at UN-Habitat have never underestimated the challenge at hand.



The world’s urban centres are veritable hotspots of vulnerability, with <a href="https://unhabitat.org/programme/rise-up-resilient-settlements-for-the-urban-poor">more than 1 billion people</a> now living in informal settlements, placing themselves at the mercy of extreme weather events.



While new cities are emerging in Africa, we need to learn to ensure challenges are well anticipated with proper planning and provision of basic services. The best approach might be by finding a balance between big city and secondary cities. Secondary cities are under less pressure and can develop sustainable urban solutions faster.



Quick fix and often exclusionary solutions like slum clearance and community relocation have proven redundant in the face of such a challenge.



UN-Habitat’s advocates an inclusive and participatory approach, with our staff getting out into the field to assist stakeholders with anything from building the climate resilience of city centres to setting up employment schemes and vocational training.



<a href="https://unhabitat.org/programme/rise-up-resilient-settlements-for-the-urban-poor#:~:text=The%20UN%2DHabitat%20flagship%20programme,spatial%20inequality%20and%20resilient%20settlements.">RISE-UP: Resilient Settlements for the Urban Poor</a> – one of UN-Habitat’s flagship programmes – exemplifies this research-driven, holistic approach to generating sustainable socio-economic progress in African cities.



Since 2019, the RISE-UP team have built up a database of locations under severe threat from extreme weather events, whether that be an informal settlement in West Africa or a coastal city in South-East Asia.



With this data in hand, UN-Habitat has lobbied for and then leveraged large scale investments to build, augment, and reinforce the climate resilience of each vulnerable community. This is an essential step in the cementing their economic viability.



As an example of RISE-UP at its best, UN-Habitatflagged the grave threat of flash floods and strong winds to schools in Mozambique in 2020. Our field operatives then worked day and night to ensure that classrooms from Maputo to Beira could withstand them.



Given the global political and economic upheavals, it is important that we stay firmly on the course of sustainable urban development and ensure support is available for the development of secondary cities in Africa. And this is what I will be focusing on in Kisumu next week.



&#8216;With these communities in mind, it is imperative that organisations operating at the supranational level like UN-Habitat stay the course. While the focus of governments on sustainable economic growth might waver, ours will not and we have the expertise to keep them moving forward, despite the undeniable obstacles they face.

TOPSHOT-NIGERIA-ECONOMY-PLANNING-LAGOS

OP-Ed Africa’s Secondary Cities Can be the Engine of Sustainable Economic Growth

May 9 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;The International Monetary Fund&#8217;s executive board on Monday approved a three-year, $456 million extended credit facility arrangement for Mozambique, with about $91 million available for immediate disbursement, the Fund said.



The facility is the southeast African nation&#8217;s first program since the global lender suspended support six years ago.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL5N2VV4W0&amp;linkedFromStory=true" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read full story</a>



The IMF said the three-year arrangement will help support economic recovery and policies to reduce public debt and financing vulnerabilities, while creating space for public investments in human capital, climate adaptation and infrastructure.



The Fund said the program will support a reform agenda centered on establishing a sovereign wealth fund to manage the country&#8217;s liquefied natural gas wealth, mobilizing tax revenue and strengthening public finances.



&#8220;Mozambique has managed the COVID pandemic relatively well, maintaining macroeconomic stability and reform momentum even as the country has weathered a series of shocks, culminating with the effects of the war in Ukraine,&#8221; IMF&nbsp;Deputy&nbsp;Managing&nbsp;Director Bo Li said in a statement. &#8220;With policy space now limited, sustaining the economic recovery underway and tackling debt vulnerabilities are priorities.&#8221;



(Reporting by Rami Ayyub and David Lawder; Editing by Sandra Maler and Christopher Cushing)

Mozambique records first COVID-19 death

IMF board approves $456 mln program for Mozambique

<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>South Africa&#8217;s Aspen facing poor demand for shots</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Could slash production without orders</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>WHO, Gavi say supplies for COVAX initiative already secured</li></ul>



By Promit Mukherjee and Jennifer Rigby



JOHANNESBURG/LONDON, May 9 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;The World Health Organization (WHO) and its COVID-19 vaccine partner Gavi have no immediate plans to buy shots made by Aspen Pharmacare&nbsp;APNJ.J, the two bodies said, dealing a blow to Africa&#8217;s efforts to develop its own vaccine production capacity.



Aspen completed a deal in March to package, sell and distribute Johnson &amp; Johnson&#8217;s&nbsp;JNJ.N&nbsp;vaccine in what was lauded as a game-changing moment for an under-vaccinated continent frustrated by sluggish Western handouts.



But the South African company&#8217;s expectations of high demand in Africa, where just a sixth of adults are fully vaccinated, have not materialised. Its CEO warned last week it would be forced to re-purpose about half of its vaccine production capacity if orders did not pick up.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL3N2WU0ZX&amp;linkedFromStory=true" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read full story</a>



The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Africa&#8217;s top public health body, has called upon organisations procuring shots for the continent to prioritise sourcing from African producers.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL5N2WX4A6&amp;linkedFromStory=true" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read full story</a>



However, COVAX &#8211; the global COVID-19 vaccine-sharing programme instrumental in Africa&#8217;s pandemic response &#8211; has no current plans to place orders with Aspen because of oversupply.



COVAX is backed by the WHO, the global vaccine alliance Gavi and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).



&#8220;In the case of Aspen, the current overall demand situation means we are currently not in a position to buy large quantities of vaccines,&#8221; a Gavi spokesperson said.



&#8220;However, we are in discussion to see if a collaboration would be feasible as part of expanding regional supply.&#8221;



Kate O&#8217;Brien, the WHO&#8217;s Director of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, said COVAX had already secured the 380 million vaccine doses required for the global programme for the second and third quarters of this year.



&#8220;COVAX &#8230; has more supply than is at present being demanded by countries, and that&#8217;s a good place to be in,&#8221; she told Reuters.



LOCAL PRODUCTION AT RISK?



As wealthy countries used their purchasing power to corner early supplies, Africa initially struggled to source COVID-19 shots, leading to calls for a boost to the continent&#8217;s vaccine production capacity.



The African Union&#8217;s goal is to produce 60% of all routine vaccines &#8211; covering everything from COVID to measles &#8211; administered in Africa locally by 2040, up from the current 1%, and several such plants are being set up.



The WHO and European Union are backing regional vaccine manufacturing initiatives. And South Africa, Senegal, Rwanda and Kenya are all seeking to establish vaccine production hubs.



Recently, however, acute shortages of COVID-19 vaccines have given way to a glut of doses as donations to COVAX and supplies from drugmakers have picked up and African governments&#8217; vaccination campaigns struggle to keep pace.



Aspen CEO Stephen Saad warned that the current lack of demand called into question the viability of local production, endangering Africa&#8217;s future vaccine security.



&#8220;There&#8217;s lives at stake here,&#8221; he told Reuters, adding that if Africa, and the rest of the world, didn&#8217;t support its capabilities the continent would remain at the back of the queue in the next pandemic.



Last year, the Biovac Institute, another South African vaccine producer, struck a deal with Pfizer&nbsp;PFE.N&nbsp;and BioNTech&nbsp;22UAy.DE&nbsp;to manufacture around 100 million doses a year of their COVID-19 vaccine for the African Union (AU). Production is due to start later this year.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL1N2OX0VN&amp;linkedFromStory=true" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read full story</a>



&#8220;The lack of demand is certainly worrisome to all,&#8221; Biovac Institute CEO Morena Makhoana said. &#8220;This emphasises why we need dedicated vaccine capability so that we have entities that can go through the ups and downs of the vaccine industry.&#8221;



Ayoade Alakija, co-chair of the AU-backed African Vaccine Delivery Alliance, said it was unfair to blame purchasing organisations for the demand shortfall.



African governments, she said, were now largely responsible for a glut of vaccines, having failed to establish successful mass vaccination campaigns and ensure their countries&#8217; ability to absorb vaccine supplies.



&#8220;African political leadership &#8230; seems to have jumped from &#8216;we have no vaccines&#8217; to manufacturing vaccines, and forgotten the two steps in between,&#8221; she said.



(Reporting by Jennifer Rigby in London, Promit Mukherjee in Johannesburg and Emma Farge in Geneva; Additional reporting by Wendell Roelf in Cape Town; Writing by Joe Bavier; Editing by Josephine Mason and Kirsten Donovan)

A pack of AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccines is seen as the country receives its first batch of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines under COVAX scheme, at the international airtport of Accra, Ghana February 24, 2021. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko

covid-19

Headwinds impact profitability of consumer goods giants

AI Africa: Upskilling Africa’s tech talent

UBA: Bond scarcity fuels quiet undertone

MTNN to issue ₦72bn commercial paper

Access: T-Bills market to remain bullish despite illiquidity

Kganyago keeps repo rate unchanged at 8.25% (full speech)

Bargain-hunting to drive positive sentiments

T-Bills mute on ₦211bn primary market auction

Investors eye ₦211bn T-Bills auction

Focus On: Exploring trade integration in Africa

Meristem: Mixed sentiments to prevail at equities market

UBA: Bond market to remain bearish through November

Supporting The African Education Community To Achieve Its Goals Through EdTech

Africa risks stagflation due to pandemic, Ukraine war – AfDB

OP-Ed Africa’s Secondary Cities Can be the Engine of Sustainable Economic Growth

IMF board approves $456 mln program for Mozambique

WHO, Gavi not planning COVID vaccine buys from S.Africa’s Aspen

News Tips

Advertise With Us

covid-19

Headwinds impact profitability of consumer goods giants

AI Africa: Upskilling Africa’s tech talent

UBA: Bond scarcity fuels quiet undertone

MTNN to issue ₦72bn commercial paper

Access: T-Bills market to remain bullish despite illiquidity

Kganyago keeps repo rate unchanged at 8.25% (full speech)

Bargain-hunting to drive positive sentiments

T-Bills mute on ₦211bn primary market auction

Investors eye ₦211bn T-Bills auction

Focus On: Exploring trade integration in Africa

Meristem: Mixed sentiments to prevail at equities market

UBA: Bond market to remain bearish through November

Supporting The African Education Community To Achieve Its Goals Through EdTech

Africa risks stagflation due to pandemic, Ukraine war – AfDB￼

OP-Ed Africa’s Secondary Cities Can be the Engine of Sustainable Economic Growth

IMF board approves $456 mln program for Mozambique

WHO, Gavi not planning COVID vaccine buys from S.Africa’s Aspen

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Advertise With Us

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Africa risks stagflation due to pandemic, Ukraine war – AfDB