SciDev.Net

The conference attracts active participation from academia and industry, from the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa and abroad, with a diverse representation across the full range of age and experience. We encourage full and frank exchange of ideas and leave room in the programme for this.

The theme of COVIDSET 2009, Revitalizing Science, Engineering and Technology Research and Deployment for Sustainable Development in Africa feeds on the logic of the first two previous conferences, which were held on the issues of education, specifically the “State of Science and Technology Training Institutions” (COVIDSET 2005) and “Science and Engineering Education for Sustainable Development” (COVIDSET 2007). COVIDSET 2009 aims at dwelling on the issue of science and technology research and its deployment to serve society.

The conference aims at providing a forum for discussing the main theme, along the lines of three sub-themes. It should contribute to increasing the capacities of the participants and collect innovative ideas on means and ways to address the challenges for revitalizing S&T research and deployment through effective policy, regulations and strategies. The sub-themes are:

• Science, Engineering and Technology R&D and Deployment Strategies: Case studies;
• Issues in R&D and Deployment policy and implementation;
• Harnessing partnerships for strengthening R&D and Deployment in Africa;
• Investment in R&D and Deployment in Africa.

Participants will be from leaders of institutions responsible for teaching and/or research in the region. These will include Vice-Chancellors, Deans of Faculties and Heads of academic departments in African universities. There will also be participants from among African Diaspora, the donor community and agencies involved in Higher Education and the promotion of Science and Technology in Africa.