
AABS 2023 Connect Conference
Are Business Schools Relevant in Africa?
The AABS 2023 Connect Conference aims to explore the current state and future prospects of business education in the African continent. The conference will bring together leading experts from academia, industry, and government to discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by business schools in Africa.
Topics to be covered include the role of business schools in fostering economic development, the need for relevant and responsive curriculum, and the challenges of attracting and retaining top talent and many more.
Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from various speakers, participate in panel discussions, and network with other professionals in the field.
This conference is a must-attend event for anyone interested in the future of business education in Africa.
Become a Sponsor
Are you interested in sponsorship?
Contact us today to find out more about the conference sponsorship: communication@aabschools.com
Accommodation
The following room blocks are available at a special rate until the room block is sold out:
- African Regent Hotel
- Standard Room: $135 per night
- Club Room: $165 per night
- Executive Room: $225 per night
- Junior Suite: $195 per night
The above rate is inclusive of breakfast and taxes, complimentary airport pickup and drop-off and high speed internet (WIFI).
- Fiesta Hospitality Hotel
- Single Room: $160 per night
- Double Room: $180 per night
The above rate is inclusive of breakfast and taxes, complimentary airport pickup and drop-off and high speed internet (WIFI).
Early Bird Prices (USD)
Early bird registration prices closes on April 15th 2023:
Original Prices (USD)
Registration prices below starts on April 16th 2023:
*All Prices Excluding PayPal fees
*Ghanaian Resident ticket: Excludes the 17th of May and the Gala Dinner.
Hourly Schedule
Wednesday 17 May 2023
- 9:30
- Departure from Hotel
- 10:00 - 15:00
- Networking Activities and Tour of Accra
- 15:00
- Departure to Hotel
- 16:00 - 18:30
- Members Meeting
- (AABS members only)
- 18:30 - 19:00
- AABS Board Meeting
- (board members only)
- 19:00
- Departure to Rector Residence
- 19:30
- Opening Welcome Reception
- 22:00
- Departure to Hotel
Thursday 18 May 2023
- 8:15
- Transfers from Hotel to GIMPA
-
Speakers:
Dean Jonathan Foster-Pedley
- 8:30 - 9:00
- Registrations and Networking Cocoa Break
- 9:00 - 9:20
- Welcome Address
-
Speakers:
Franklyn Manu, Samuel Bonsu
- 9:20 - 10:00
- First Keynote Address
- 10:00 - 10:30
- Networking Cocoa Break
- 10:30 - 11:30
- Session 1: How are African business schools perceived from the outside?
- 11:30 - 12:30
- Session 2: “Behind the Scene”: Perspective from the African Deans
- 12:30 - 13:45
- Networking Lunch and Group Photo (Optional Campus Tour)
- (Optional Campus Tour)
- 13:45 - 15:00
- Session 3: “The AABS Accreditation Philosophy”: How the AABS Accreditation relates the quality of African business schools to Relevance and Impact
- 15:00 - 15:15
- Networking Cocoa Break
- 15:15 - 16:15
- Session 4: The Future of African Business Schools (Concurrent Sessions)
- The parallel bilingual sessions aim to shed some light on the need for innovations in identifying new directions for business schools in this evolving field requiring new tools that can help African business schools navigate the evolving complexity facing them and prepare for uncertainties. To stay locally relevant, the bilingual sessions are devoted for analyzing these complexities and finding practicable solutions for the future.
- 16:15 - 16:30
- Overview of First Day
- 16:30
- Delegates Departure
- 19:00
- Transfer from Hotel
- 19:30
- Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony
Friday 19 May 2023
- 8:15
- Transfers from Hotel to GIMPA
- 8:30 - 9:00
- Registrations and Networking Cocoa Break
- 9:00 - 9:45
- Session 6: Climate Change: Being Relevant in Critical Times
- 9:45 - 10:30
- Breakout Rooms
- 10:30 - 11:00
- Networking Cocoa Break
- 11:00 - 11:30
- Moderators of the Breakout Rooms share with the whole group
- 11:30 - 12:15
- Second Keynote Address
- 12:15 - 13:15
- Networking Lunch
- 13:15 - 14:15
- Connect Circles (Parallel)
- 14:15 - 15:00
- Conversation with the AABS Associates
- 15:00 - 15:30
- Networking Cocoa Break
- 15:30 - 17:00
- Reflections, Actions, and Recommendations
- 17:00 - 17:15
- Closing and Wrap Up
- 17:30
- Delegates Departure



Speakers
-
Franklyn ManuFormer Rector of GIMPA (Ghana)
Professor Manu is a Professor at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and was the Rector from August 2012 to August 2016. He previously served as Dean of the GIMPA Business School. He has over thirty years of experience in consulting, training, and education. During this period, he has exhibited extensive capabilities in strategic planning, programme, design and assessment in higher education. He has been heavily involved in designing and reviewing programmes to improve university and corporate education in such institutions as Loyola College in Maryland (USA), Morgan State University (USA), Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Association of African Business Schools, Global Business School Network, International Academy of African Business and Development, Ghana National Accreditation Board. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Accreditation Committee of the Association of African Business Schools.
-
Lana ElramlyAABS Executive Director
-
Samuel BonsuRector, GIMPA, and founding chair of PRME Africa Chapter (Ghana)
