INTRODUCTION 

The Association of Technical Universities and Polytechnics in Africa (ATUPA), hitherto known as the Commonwealth Association of Technical Universities and Polytechnics in Africa (CAPA) is a Pan-African organization created out of a decision taken on August 29, 2019 at the CAPA General Assembly of Heads of Member Institutions in Kigali, Rwanda. This decision was ratified by the Ministers of Education from AU member states at the Third Ordinary Session of the Specialized Committee on Education, Science and Technology (STC – EST III) on December 13, 2019 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which resolved to "TAKE NOTE of the rebranding of the CAPA to the Association of Technical Universities and Polytechnics in Africa (ATUPA), and to encourage Technical Universities and Polytechnics in their countries to join this continental Association".  

The mandate is to support professional and skill development amongst its membership mostly drawn from TVET institutions in Africa. In order to stimulate exchanges of experience and ideas, the Association regularly organizes and provides forums for discussion of matters of common interests. 

Like all other organizations, CAPA-ATUPA has been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic in holding its physical forums in different parts of the continent as was its norm. To surmount the challenges, the Executive Board resolved to hold its 42nd International Conference virtually on August 30 - 31, 2021. The theme of the conference is "The Future of Jobs: Training, Workforce Development and Reskilling Africa". The purpose of this concept note is to bring clarity to the theme. It is hoped that the outcomes of the conference shall go beyond the repeated formulation of ideas and the rhetoric that has been heard over the years to providing pragmatic strategies and guidelines, even at the policy dialogue level.  

THE FUTURE OF JOBS AND TRAINING IN AFRICA

The world is at the cusps of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, notwithstanding the disruption to education and training as a result of the Covid-19 global pandemic. Advancements in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, genetics, nanotechnology, robotics, and 3D printing, are tremendously reshaping the jobs landscape. This is the herald of a most wide-ranging change than anything before now. Patterns of production, consumption and employment inevitably present great challenges in keeping pace for individuals, organizations and governments. As whole industries adapt to these realities, most jobs are experiencing major transformation. Some occupations are threatened by redundancy while others are emerging, and existing jobs are also going through a change in the skill sets required to do them. Discussion on this revolution has caused division between those who foresee limitless new possibilities and those that foresee massive dislodgment of jobs. This calls for capacity of various stakeholders in technical and vocational education and training to manage change.

The impact of technological, demographic and socio-economic disruptions on business models will be felt in transformations to the employment landscape and skills requirements, resulting in substantial challenges for recruiting, training and managing talent. Several industries may find themselves in a scenario of positive employment demand for hard-to-recruit specialist occupations with simultaneous skills instability across many existing roles. In order to manage these developments effectively, there is a need for upskilling and reskilling talent from varied academic backgrounds in all trades.

CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES 

The key objectives of the conference are to: 

1. enhance transferability of skills and qualifications and cross border movement by vocational education and training graduates;
2. raise awareness on the need for increased enrolment of women and the youth in TVET;
3. stress the import of conservation of the natural world by supporting the blue & green economy; 
4. promote focus in skilling the marginalized and underrepresented with;

 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CONFERENCE  

To ensure a very successful outcome of the conference, an organizing committee has been constituted, comprised of members of the Associations' Secretariat and some key partners. The conference is organized to include: 

1. The main conference featuring keynote addresses, panel discussions and podium sessions on the Conference theme and other cross-cutting issues
2. Virtual launch of the Association of Technical Universities and Polytechnics in Africa (ATUPA)
3. The Third Pan-African Youth Forum for TVET Students, hosted in partnership with the Africa Union Commission, on the theme: "Building Bridges between TVET and the Workplaces in Africa"
4. Finals for the Pitch-Africa 2021 Talent & Innovation Competition for TVET Students
5. A virtual Careers fair / exhibition showcasing TVET jobs, industrial technologies and R&D innovations by sponsors and industry/private sector partners, training institutions and research institutes
6. The General Assembly of heads of ATUPA member institutions and elections of a new Executive Board

For more information: 

Please visit the website: www.capa-sec.org or contact The Secretary General, CAPA-ATUPA, Email: info@capa-sec.org 

Tel.: +254-20-3343672; Cell phone: +254-792-688383