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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).

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:

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Original Prices (USD)

Registration prices below starts on April 16th 2023:

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*All Prices Excluding PayPal fees

*Ghanaian Resident ticket: Excludes the 17th of May and the Gala Dinner.

 

Register Now

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
Dean Jonathan Foster-Pedley
Dean Jonathan Foster-Pedley
AABS Board Member
Jonathan is Dean and Director of Henley Business School - Africa, part of the Henley Business School UK, a leading global business school with campuses in Europe, Asia and Africa. With Henley Africa being the first school to be accredited by AABS, Henley now holds international quadruple accreditation, AABS, AACSB, Association of MBAs and EQUIS. Jonathan’s career includes roles as an educator, dean, corporate executive, airline pilot, writer and speaker. He has been a professor of innovation, MBA director, director of executive education, designer and director of numerous executive education programmes and lecturer in strategy, innovation and executive learning. He has 45 years of international working experience. His interests are economic and educational transformation, sustainability and business evolution. Henley Africa has been an entrepreneurial success, growing 1200% in revenues in the 11 years under his leadership without any external financial support or investment. It has been ranked as the no.1 MBA business school in South Africa for five years running. Its purpose is ‘We build the people who build the businesses that build Africa.’ Henley now has probably the largest MBA scholarship programme in Africa, focusing on offering scholarships to emerging African leaders and influencers from the media, civil society, creative industries, sports, executives and activists who have made a personal commitment and sacrifice toward #African development and transformation. Jonathan has driven several initiatives such as #CorporateActivism, #NoMoreBribes, #InformedDemocracy and #FamilyFriendlyMBA. He is the founder of Henley EARTH –Environmental Activism thru Research & Training @ Henley. He is chair and founder of MBAid, an NPO that seeks to turn the energies of business schools to social good, and has worked with over 350 NGOs. Jonathan is chairman of the British Chamber of Business in Southern Africa, a board member of AABS, and a previous vice-chair of the SABSA -South African Business Schools Association.
Franklyn Manu
Franklyn Manu
Former 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.
Samuel Bonsu
Samuel Bonsu
Rector, GIMPA, and founding chair of PRME Africa Chapter (Ghana)

Date

May 17 - 19 2023

Time

All Day

Location

GIMPA
Accra

Organizer

GIMPA

Speakers

  • Franklyn Manu
    Franklyn Manu
    Former 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 Elramly
    Lana Elramly
    AABS Executive Director
  • Samuel Bonsu
    Samuel Bonsu
    Rector, GIMPA, and founding chair of PRME Africa Chapter (Ghana)
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