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Warwick in Africa programme announces new Director

The Warwick in Africa programme is pleased to announce that it has a new Director, Professor David Davies, who replaced Professor Colin Sparrow from 1 August 2021. Professor Davies will provide strategic direction for the programme with a particular focus on monitoring and enhancing the impact the programme has on both our partners in Africa, and our Warwick staff and students volunteers. As an important international student volunteering opportunity, the Warwick in Africa programme is now positioned alongside Warwick Volunteers in the Student Opportunity division led by the Director of Student Opportunity, Roberta Wooldridge Smith, and responsibility for programme management is held by Marianne Davies.

Warwick in Africa has continued to be very active during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Teacher Support Programme remains strong having delivered two successful online conferences in 2020 and 2021 attended by teachers based in Ghana, Tanzania and South Africa. A number of new teachers have joined the programme as Warwick in Africa Lead Teachers in the last two years attending a two-week-long online training course to induct them into the role. Furthermore, a strong collaborative partnership has been formed between Warwick in Africa and the Commonwealth Education Trust to provide free online continuous professional development training to every single one of the teachers at our partner schools. Last but not least, Warwick students have continued to be involved with the programme by undertaking research projects on a variety of topics related to international development and education development, and by taking part in focus groups and events.

Following the recent lifting of restrictions on international travel, it is very much hoped that a group of student volunteers will be able to travel to Ghana, Tanzania and South Africa next summer - recruitment will open soon after the Christmas break. Other opportunities to get involved will be advertised year-round. Staff and students are encouraged to follow Warwick in Africa on social media and join our mailing list by emailing warwickinafrica@warwick.ac.uk.