Not only a first for Africa but a first for South Africa and more importantly the Western Cape, leading US-based Non-profit, Axim Collaborative, will be hosting their annual Open edX conference at Stellenbosch University.
This takes place from 2 to 5 July and is open to individuals and organisations who use the Open edX platform, as well as those who want to learn more about it.
Accessible to African digital education technology industry members, the conference aims to use the platform to drive investment into the education sector and ignite innovations throughout the Western Cape.
The Open edX Platform is a free-to-use, open-source Learning Management System (LMS) that creates and delivers online courses and learning experiences.
Attracting a diverse audience, the 2024 conference aims to facilitate knowledge exchange among global EdTech leaders. Participants will explore innovative applications of the Open edX
Platform across various business and higher education scenarios, and delve into the latest advancements in instructional design, course development, and methods for operating and extending the platform.
The program will be structured around four tracks covering all facets of the Open edX LMS and its evolving role in the online education landscape. Taking place over four days, the conference will include a variety of sessions ranging from lightning talks to workshops.
Most notable are the two keynote sessions led by:
Hatim Eltayeb, Chief Executive Officer of the African Leadership Academy, and school service company Symposium founder. “A high-quality education is the keystone of a dignified, agentic life. There is no question that technology is crucial in enabling this urgent need for the world’s youngest continent,” says Eltayeb.
Jonathan Jansen is a distinguished professor of education at Stellenbosch University, and president of the Academy of Science of South Africa.
“I do not know of a more powerful intervention than digital education to more rapidly enhance access to education in unequal societies,” adds Professor Jansen.
Not only does this conference put the Western Cape on the global map of pioneering destinations, but it also has the support of Wesgro, which is the region’s official tourism, trade, and investment promotion agency.
“We look forward to welcoming Open edX 2024 to Stellenbosch. Our province is a hub for education innovation with many ed-tech companies starting up and expanding here, so there can be no better place for these rich discussions to take place. Through our Edu Invest catalytic project, powered by Wesgro and supported by the Western Cape Education Department, we are focused on attracting investment into the education sector.
“Driving partnerships with the private sector is essential to realising this objective and conferences like Open edX provide a unique opportunity to showcase the enormous potential of our beautiful province,” comments Wrenelle Stander, CEO of Wesgro.
Conferences, such as Open edX 2024, have a direct impact on the local economy. Beyond direct financial gains, these events are expected to fuel long-term economic growth in related sectors such as transportation, information technology, marketing services, and investment. They also drive the knowledge economy and enable global networks.
With the Western Cape, Cape Town in particular, rapidly becoming a global hub for online education, the Open edX agency, in collaboration with the Western Cape Department of Education launched the ground-breaking Edu Invest initiative in 2023. This initiative seeks to attract investment into education and establish the Western Cape as an innovation powerhouse.
Registration for the conference is already open and bookings are limited. To reserve your place or for more information, visit https://con.openedx.org/.
