The DigiGrad Workshop held on 9th October 2024 was an integral part of the ANIE Conference, focusing on the implementation of Work Package 2 of the DigiGrad Project. The workshop featured key activities centered around strategic planning and institutional experiences in the context of digital graduate education.
The day began with welcome remarks from Prof. Goski Alabi, Chairperson of ANIE, followed by an introduction and status updates on the project’s progress from Dr. James Otieno Jowi, the project coordinator, and Jaume Fortunyfrom OBREAL Global. The first session featured a panel discussion where institutional representatives shared their experiences. This included insights from Dr. Samuel Aru Garang (Upper Nile University), Prof. Sarah Darkwa (University of Cape Coast) & Prof. Orpha Ongiti (Africa Nazarene University)
In the following session, Mindel van der Laar from Maastricht University and Karine Hindrix from UCL Leuven led training activities, guiding participants on transforming strategies into actionable plans. Participants were then engaged in an interactive session where they worked together to develop their own strategies and timelinesfor implementing digital graduate education solutions in their respective institutions. This hands-on approach allowed them to tailor action plans specific to their contexts and challenges.
The afternoon continued with a focus on updating the DigiGrad handbook, a key resource for future activities, with contributions from experts like Han Aart and Karine Hindrix.
The workshop concluded with a forward-looking discussion on next steps and the closing of the day’s activities. It was a collaborative and engaging session aimed at enhancing the digital graduate education landscape across African institutions
