The Erasmus Mundus African Chapter representing at the COP17 conference in Durban, South Africa

By Ms. Marli Geldenhuy (the EMA AC Southern Africa Regional Coordinator)

On the 27^th of November three of the EMA African Chapter Board members (and three other alumni) arrived in Durban, South Africa to take part in the COP17 Side Event: Emerging Scholars Symposium on Climate Change and Book Launches. The event was organized by the Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA) and Erasmus Mundus was one of the institutional partners. The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 7th Session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties (CMP7) to the Kyoto Protocol.

ELECTIONS OF THE AFRICAN CHAPTER BOARD

Many thanks to all the candidates for the enthusiasm and to all the voters for the support. The results of the online elections are now available.

64 candidates for different positions have nominated themselves, and here are the new members of the Chapter Board:

President of the chapter                 : Apiyo Okwiri, Kenya (38% of the votes)
Chapter Vice-President                  : Lambini Cosmas Kombat, Ghana (28%)
Secretary of the chapter                : Aimable Uwizeye, Rwanda (29%)
Events Coordinator of the chapter  : Shingirirai Mutanga, Zimbabwe (29%)
Chapter Treasurer                        : Jean Bosco Siborurema, Rwanda (single candidate)

Regional Coordinator Eastern Africa   : Cornelius Were Okello, Kenya (29%)
Regional Coordinator Western Africa  : Emmanuel Senyo Fianu, Ghana (46%)
Regional Coordinator Central Africa   : Jude Dzevela Kong, Cameroon (56%)
Regional Coordinator Southern Africa: Martha Alida Geldenhuys, South Africa (29%)
Regional Coordinator Northern Africa: Abdeltif El Ouahrani, Morocco (57%)

From EMA website.

Elections of New Executives for EMA-AC

There is a new call on all Erasmus Mundus Alumni and current students in Europe and Africa to express interest in various posts to contribute to making the African Chapter fulfill its mission in Africa and Europe. The Guidelines for the elections are below:

Dear EMA - African Chapter Members,

As some Directive members are completing their term, we would like to open the call for candidates for the following positions:

1. 1. President
2. 2. Vice-president
3. 3. Secretary General
4. 4. Treasurer/Financial Secretary
5. 5. Event/Conference Coordinator
6. 6. Sub-Regional Coordinators (for West Africa, Eastern Africa, Central Africa, Northern Africa and Southern Africa)

PROMOTING AWARENESS OF ERASMUS MUNDUS SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME IN GHANA; REPORT BY EMA-AFRICAN CHAPTER

The EMA-African Chapter held a one day conference at the University of Ghana on the 6^th of May, 2010 dubbed “Promoting Awareness of Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Scheme in Ghana.” The programme commenced with welcome addresses by the Head of Department of the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana-Mr Kwesi Jonah, the Acting President of the EMA-African Chapter, Ms Karen Basiye, the EMA-Country Representative for Ghana, Justice Oddoi, the President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), the NUGS officer for International Relations-Ms Ivy De-Souza, and the Chairman of the Methodist Presbyterian Students Union (MPU) of the University of Ghana.

Erasmus Mundus: Higher Education in Europe and the Dilemma of Brain Drain and Brain Gain in Africa

EMA-African Chapter’s Maiden Thematic Conference Dubbed: “Erasmus Mundus: Higher Education in Europe and the Dilemma of Brain Drain and Brain Gain in Africa” came off in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on November 21, 2009.

In its bid to contribute to the discourse on brain drain in Africa and the Erasmus Mundus Programme as well as further promote Erasmus Mundus as a program of excellence in Africa and to increase the participation of African Erasmus Mundus students and Alumni in the activities of the EMA, the EMA-African Chapter organized a one-day conference in Addis Ababa on the theme: Erasmus Mundus: Higher Education in Europe and the Dilemma of Brain Drain and Brain Gain in Africa featuring Erasmus Mundus alumni and students from across African regions and Europe as well as seasoned speakers and professionals on issues of migration and brain drain in Africa.

The 3rd EMA General Assembly in Lithuania, Vilnius

The third consecutive annual General Assembly of the Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association (EMA) took place in Vilnius, Lithuania from the 5-6th June 2009.

African students unprecedentely were represented to a total number of 2o students as EMMC Representatives, Chapter Representative or as Observers. It was a great feeling. A number of things made this year's GA speacial for African students.

EMA-AFRICAN CHAPTER

The dream of our fathers lives on! African Unity remains on the agenda in most African Leaders forum. The question is not why we should unite but How!

The meeting that started EMA-African Chapter

Who knows, may be the Erasmus Mundus Masters Course (EMMC) funded by the generosity of the European Commission, will provide the modality for Africa's unity.