SETS DIGITAL PROGRAMME SYMPOSIUM

THEME: Stimulating entrepreneurial thinking in Scientists (SETS)

DATE – May 20th 11.00AM to 1.00PM UK Time

DURATION – 2.0 HOURS

Venue: Teams Webinar Link – Join HERE

In Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya as it is in most other African countries, STI-inclined research institutions depend wholly on their federal government who now struggle to fund them; they don’t engage strategically well with private sector organisations or industry, solution-driven research is problematic, and scientists and researchers are driven mostly by a ‘publish or perish’ agenda. With evidence of the opportunities that entrepreneurship provides for scientists in Africa, this programme was conceptualised against the backdrop of a COVID era, to co-design and co-deliver an online programme that Stimulates Entrepreneurial Thinking in Scientists (SETS), together with four African partner institutions – University of Benin Nigeria (UNIBEN), Igbinedion University Nigeria (IUO), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Ghana (CSIR) and Kenyatta University Kenya (KU).

The objectives of the SETS digital programme were:

1. To understand combinations of pedagogical approaches for digital learning that work best for different organizations/institutions in Africa (e.g. including elements of instructional, student-led, and collaborative forms of learning)

2. The co-development of an entrepreneurial educational tool-kit for both educators and students

3. To co-deliver blended content which includes both synchronous and asynchronous elements (using co-developed content and a selection of appropriate digital platforms)

4. To help educators think differently, innovatively and most especially entrepreneurially in their research work and teaching of students.

5. To stimulate the entrepreneurial mindset of educators to build impactful entrepreneurial eco-systems – which includes partnerships with industry, NGOs, policy makers; and to increase their resource mobilization and fund-raising capacity to reduce over-dependence on government funding which stalls their work.

The first phase of the SETS Digital Programme was to understand the perception, behavior, challenges and needs of the academics and scientists with regards to entrepreneurship. It was also designed to understand the potential programme structure, content and pedagogy, delivery mechanism and process for the SETS Digital Programme.

The second phase of the project was to use the information and data from surveys and interviews undertaken in the first phase of the project, to co-design and co-develop the SETS Digital Programme.

After different consultations with our Africa partners, we have been able to design a SETS Digital Programme Tool-kit which has been launched and piloted with our African partners. The purpose of this symposium is therefore to:

1. Share the results and outputs of the SETS Digital Programme co-development and co-design project with stakeholders.

2. Discuss the lessons learnt on the co-design and co-development of an online programme that aims to stimulate entrepreneurial thinking in scientists.

3. Explore potential opportunities for programme uptake, expansion and further engagement with relevant stakeholders.

Brief Programme:

11.00 – 11.10 Introduction of Symposium and Guests – Dr Akanimo Odon (Moderator, Lancaster University)

11.10 – 11.15 Welcome Address by Project Lead – Prof Kirk Semple (Lancaster University Ghana)

11.15 – 11.20 Overview of the Digital University Africa Programme– Dr Liz Dempsey (British Council)

11.20 – 11.40 Presentation of Project Results and SETS Toolkit – Dr. Joanne Lartey (Senior Lecturer LUMS) & Anthony N-Yelkabong (Programme Managers SETS)

11.40 – 12.00 Stakeholder Interaction – Q/A

12.00– 12.30 Panel Session (Partners Forum)

- LU Ghana – Dr. Emmanuel Attah, Academic and Entrepreneur Lancaster University Ghana

- Kenyatta University – Prof Caroline Thoruwa – Director Africa Centre for Transformative and Inclusive Leadership (ACTIL) Kenyatta University Kenya

- CSIR Ghana – Prof Mary Obodai – Director Food Research Institute, CSIR Ghana

- Igbinedion University Nigeria – Dr Spencer Nwangwu – Director SDG Centre Igbinedion University Nigeria

- University of Benin Nigeria – Dr Nosa Uhunamure Senior Lecturer Centre for Global Eco-Innovation Nigeria (University of Benin)

12.30 – 12.50 Stakeholder Interaction – Next Steps

12.50 – 13.00 Symposium Wrap Up

Stimulating Entrepreneurial Thinking in Scientists (SETS)