GEPP Co-hosted an International Seminar on “World Bank’s Programs for Higher Education in Africa: Africa Centers of Excellence (ACE)”

On September 11, 2026, the International Seminar on Global Governance for Human Security was held under the theme “World Bank’s Programs for Higher Education in Africa: Africa Centers of Excellence (ACE).” The seminar was conducted in a hybrid format at the Main Conference Room of the Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies (GSICS), Kobe University, and via Zoom. It was co-organized by the Kobe University UNESCO Chair, the Global Research Center for Education Policy and Planning (GEPP), the Global Network Program, and the CAMPUS Asia Plus Program.

The seminar featured three invited speakers from the World Bank: Dr. Trina Haque, Regional Director for Human Development in Western and Central Africa; Dr. Daniel Dulitzky, Regional Practice Director for Human Development in Eastern and Southern Africa; and Dr. Roberta Malee Bassett, Global Lead for Tertiary Education and Senior Education Specialist. Dr. Haque introduced the World Bank’s approach to education and skills development in Western and Central Africa, highlighting the challenges of connecting learning to employment. She explained that formal job creation has not kept pace with the region’s rapidly growing young population, while gaps in learning and access persist across all levels of education. She emphasized that education provides a foundation for higher productivity and adaptability and strengthens the returns to investments in businesses and infrastructure. Her presentation underlined the importance of developing skills aligned with labor market demand through coordinated support for basic education, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and higher education.

The presentation also introduced the Africa Centers of Excellence (ACE) program and the directions of its next generation, ACE Innovate. ACE competitively selects centers that address national and regional development priorities, supports plans developed and owned by participating institutions, and releases funding against independently verified results. The program has supported 80 centers at 50 universities across 20 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to advanced training, collaborative research, and partnerships with industry. Building on this experience, ACE Innovate aims to connect universities and technical institutions to develop advanced and mid-level skills for sectors with strong potential for job creation. The presentation also highlighted the importance of extending the benefits of successful centers to national education and research systems and strengthening links with SIRA (Skills for Innovation, Resilience, and Aspirations), a regional platform supporting secondary education and skills training.

A total of 87 participants attended the seminar, comprising 42 in person and 45 online. The presentation also highlighted opportunities for cooperation through joint research, faculty exchanges, and technology transfer, involving both networks of African institutions and universities outside the region, including those in Japan. The seminar provided a valuable opportunity to deepen participants’ understanding of higher education support in Africa in relation to regional development priorities and employment. It also underscored the roles of partnerships between educational institutions and industry, results-based financing, and knowledge sharing across countries.