IATT on Education Presentation at the 12th General Conference of the Association of African Universities

Del 04-05-2009 al 09-05-2009 (Nigeria) 

On the occasion of the 12th General Conference of the Association of African Universities(AAU), over 200 university Vice Chancellors from 28 African and 7 other countries gathered in Abuja, Nigeria, on 4-9 May 2009 to share, debate, network and plan for “Sustainable Development in Africa: the Role of Higher Education”.

As one of four concurrent parallel events, the session on HIV and AIDS attracted the largest audience - approximately over half of the participants.

Two AAU Sub-Regional Network Coordinators (for South and West Africa respectively) presented the results of an impact assessment on the HIV and AIDS programmes carried out by AAU members in 2005-2008, and the strategy for 2009-2013.

Remarkable progress has been made by the AAU members in the past four years including:

• the development of 12 institutional HIV policies;


• the establishment of sub-regional networks to share best practices in HIV management in Eastern, Central, West and Southern Africa;


• 65 university leaders and 44 university managers reached with skills development trainingand;


• documentation and publication of best practice models and trends in higher education response to HIV and AIDS in Africa.;

However, challenges remain, as some universities remain under-committed and unprepared.

Strategic objectives for the coming four years were presented and include:

• strengthened AAU leadership and sub-regional networks;


• enhanced university research and training;


• improved HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support among AAU members; and


• a strengthened AAU Secretariat for coordination.

The UNAIDS Inter-Agency Task Team on Education (IATT) was invited to deliver a presentation at the Session. The presentation:

• emphasised the important role of higher education institutions in HIV and AIDS responses


• introduced the IATT and its Working Group on Higher Education as a resource and mechanism for support


• reflected on key issues and gaps


• advocated for a comprehensive approach for the higher education sector to respond to HIV and AIDS

The AAU has been a member of the IATT since 2007, and leads the IATT Working Group on Higher Education.