Convention ISM Alumni: The School of Tomorrow - Dakar 2014

African Leadership, Governance, Pedagogy of the Future

The author’s contribution was based personal experience of teaching leadership and entrepreneurship to undergraduate and graduate students at ISM Dakar campus, 2011-2014 and inspired by the future of African.

The African educational leadership of the future needs to be transformational and entrepreneurial in its approach to governance and as well as having an innovative pedagogy to prepare the students for the opportunities and challenge of the rapidly changing 21st century global workplace. Thirty five per cent of Africa’s population is under 30 years old and by 2050, African will have the world’s largest workforce. (Harvard Business Review 2013). Effective leadership and good professional practice are essential to the students’ success. This means teachers must to engage in continuous professional development and be emotionally intelligent. There needs to be strong social values and a shared vision by all stakeholders to ensure education is inclusive in terms of equality of opportunity for all. Students need to learn how to develop their own philosophy as learners and of learning in order to unleash their potential. They must take responsibility and be accountable to themselves.
Within the business school curriculum needs to enable students’ to be creative, innovative and entrepreneurial. Students supported to become co-designer of curriculum. This new approach to teaching and learning require a shift from the traditional classrooms to more agile learning environments, where employers and other community of key stakeholders are also involved in the design and delivery of the curriculum.

The Convention was opened by Mr Amadou Diaw, Founder President, ISM Group. The programme comprised of a keynote presentaton by Mr Alioune Sall, the Founder and Executive Director of the African Futures Institute, a Pan-African think-tank established in 2004 and specialized in foresight exercises, research and capacity development. This provided the context for the panel discussion on 'The School of Tomorrow' , chaired by Ms Emmanuelle Bastide, a French Journalist. The Panel included:

Mr Jean Charles Tall, Architect
Mr Alpha Dia, Economiste de l’ Education
Mr Mansour Kaye Pr.d’ Universitte Expert ITCE
Mr Youssou Cisse, Adie et Action AIMS
Mr Badara Mbacke, ISM Alumni GG de PCCI
Mme Aissatou Sow , ISM Alumni
Maureen Salmon, Founder Director, Freshwaters Consultancy

Each member of the panel gave their thoughts and contribute to one of issues below based on their experience
• What will the school of tomorrow (the future) be?
• Role of actors in designing the school of tomorrow?
• Business schools, governance, leadership, pedagogy
• Teachers and professors competences, attitude, values,
• Students learning attitudes, autonomy, commitment
• Governments priorities in funding, equality in education
• Researchers building the bridge between elastic research and practice
• Financial institutions’ new scheme of funding schools
• What will be the role of the arts and creativity?