UNESCO WEBINAR OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES AND BEST PRACTICES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DISTANCE EDUCATION RESOURCES FOR MUSEUMS IN EASTERN AFRICA Meeting Platform Use this link to join: Join Microsoft Teams Meeting Date and Time: Thursday, 14 May 2020 Time : 16:00-17:30 (EAT) Language: English Objective In recognition of the theme of the 2020 International Museum Day (digital inclusion), this webinar will provide an opportunity to learn about the current context of distance learning educational programmes and resources at museums in the Eastern Africa region, the availability of national, regional and global resources for distance learning at museums, and the formulation of informed recommendations for the elaboration of a regional project proposal to support the development of distance learning educational programmes and resources for museums in the Eastern Africa region. Expected Results: 1. Increased awareness of current context of East African museums education and outreach programmes, including needs of museums and teachers as well as challenges and opportunities for the development of distance learning educational resources; 2. Increased awareness of existing learning resources and programmes; 3. Strengthened network of museums and teachers from the Eastern Africa region as well as strengthened global network of stakeholders; 4. Conclusions and recommendations identified for inclusion in the elaboration of a regional project proposal for development of distance learning educational programmes and resources for museums in the Eastern Africa region. Participants: Museum professionals and teachers from Anglophone countries in the Eastern Africa region Museums and institutions offering distance learning resources UNESCO National Commissions Responsible national authorities for Culture in the region Organisers: UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa and UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA) Contact : Ms. Karalyn Monteil, Regional Advisor for Culture, UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, [email protected] 1 Context and justification The COVID-19 virus began affecting the Eastern Africa region in February 2020 and within one month, all 13 countries covered by the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa (Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda) have been affected by the pandemic. In response, national authorities have imposed a wide variety of preventive measures to contain the spread of the virus, which include the temporary closure of schools and cultural institutions, including museums and heritage sites. As schools and teachers around the world struggle to develop and implement distance learning modalities for their students during this crisis, those in the Africa region and other low-tech environments with limited internet connectivity and access to computers or tablets, as well as high rates of poverty and insecurity, face an additional challenge to ensuring education continues for students on lockdown or in quarantine at home. UNESCO has reached out to both Education Ministries and Culture Ministries in Member States around the globe to assess the current situation and develop appropriate actions for the short, medium and long term response and recovery to the COVID-19 pandemic. UNESCO Headquarters has published references of distance learning solutions, and an interactive map on cultural and communications initiatives in response to the COVID crisis. UNESCO’s International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA) has been leading a series of COVID-19 Education Response Webinars to assess contexts and develop responses to challenges and opportunities while also facilitating knowledge exchange across national borders. The initial research UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa has undertaken on distance learning (also referred to as “virtual learning” or “connected education”) resources available from the culture sector has shown that there are few museums and other cultural institutions in the Eastern Africa region offering what could be considered distance learning resources. Out of the 13 countries covered by our Regional Office, only 11 have National Museums. Among these, only 5 have official web sites, 9 have FaceBook pages, and 2 have Twitter accounts. Although many offer education programmes for schools, most of these take place on site through school visits and no information is provided online about these. There is therefore a need, which has been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, to support museums in the Eastern Africa region to develop distance learning education resources and programmes that are adapted to their individual country contexts and take into consideration low- tech environments, equity/inclusive education and gender perspectives. To this end, UNESCO Regional Office plans to develop a comprehensive project proposal to support East African museums with the development of distance learning education and outreach programmes and resources. The organisation of this webinar will provide an opportunity to learn more about the national contexts, challenges and aspirations for distance learning in museums and also share best practices from leading global institutions as well as from museums in the Africa region. This exchange will lead to a more informed and relevant project proposal that responds to the national and regional context and builds on existing national, regional and global resources for museum education. 2 Final Programme Time Item 16:00 -16:05 Welcoming remarks by Ms. Ann Therese Ndong-Jatta, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa Introduction of the Webinar themes by Ms. Karalyn Monteil, UNESCO Regional Advisor for Culture in the Eastern Africa Region 16:05 -16:10 Keynote Speech by Dr Mzalendo Kibunjia, Director General of the National Museums of Kenya 16:10 -16:45 Sharing of National Contexts of Distance Learning resources in the Eastern Africa Region and Experiences during COVID-19 pandemic Presentation of results of survey on the use of digital technology in African museums - Ms. Catherine C Cole, Secretary-General, Commonwealth Association of Museums Museums perspectives - Ms. Rose Mwanja, Director of the National Museums of Uganda - Dr. Noel Lwoga, Director General of National Museums of Tanzania - Ms. Beryl Ondiek, Director of Seychelles National Museums - Amb. Dr. Robert Masozera, Director General of National Museums of Rwanda Teachers perspectives - Dr. Marie Gibert, Professor of History and Geography at the Lycée Denis Diderot French School of Nairobi (Kenya) - Dr. Binyam Sisay Mendisu, Programme Officer, Teacher Education and Curriculum Development, UNESCO-International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA) 16:45-17:05 Sharing Best Practices - Ms. Liesl Hartman, Head of the Education Department, Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (South Africa) - Dr Corinne Forest, Head Technical Unit at Aapravasi Ghat Trust Fund (Mauritius) - Mr. Darren Milligan, Senior Digital Strategist, Smithsonian Center for Learning and Digital Access, and Director of the Smithsonian Learning Lab (USA) - Dr. William C. Diehl, Assistant Professor of Education and Coordinator of Online Graduate Programs at Penn State College of Education, Associate editor for The American Journal of Distance Education (USA) 17:05-17:10 Available Resources - Mr. Terry Nyambe, Executive Board Member of International Council of Museums (ICOM) 17:10-17:20 Question & Answer / Discussion moderated by Prof. George Abungu, Founding Director and Lead Consultant, Okello Abungu Heritage Consultants (Kenya) 17:20- 17:25 Recommendations for the Way forward - Prof. George Abungu, Founding Director and Lead Consultant, Okello Abungu Heritage Consultants (Kenya) 17:25- 17:30 Closing remarks by Dr. Yumiko Yokozeki, Director of the UNESCO-International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA) 3 Biographies of panelists and moderators DR. MZALENDO NYAGA KIBUNJIA, Director General of the National Museums of Kenya, Dr. Kibunjia is the Chief Executive Officer/Director-General of the National Museums of Kenya. He holds a Ph.D. and MA in Anthropology from Rutgers, The State University, New Jersey, USA and a BA in Archaeology & History from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. He has a rich experience in heritage, anthropology, language and social matters. He also has extensive experience in matters cohesion and peace having been the Chairperson of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) in Kenya between 2009 and 2014. This National Commission was set up in 2009 to create and enhance unity and harmony among the Kenyan people after the divisive Kenya National elections of 2007. Dr. Kibunjia has a wealth of experience in matters World Heritage when he started in his early years of his heritage career as Kenya’s Focal Person for UNESCO World Heritage Conventions. In addition, over the years, he has been Kenya’s resource person and participant in many, if not all World Heritage Meetings as well as the country’s representative in many Committees of UNESCO World Heritage. In February 2020, he was the Chairperson during the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. He has also participated in many of UNESCO’s World Heritage Africa Regional trainings both as a resource person as well as a keynote speaker. He has also trained many heritage practitioners in this field