Improving teachers’ and students’ professional development in Sub-Saharan Africa

In the era of climate change awareness, digitalisation plays a significant role. Digital solutions can reduce global emissions by up to 20 %, making digitalisation a key driver of sustainable development. A ‘twin transition’ (Muench et al. 2022) approach combines digital and sustainability strategies to boost efficiency and sustainability objectives, aligning with SDGs related to circular economy, climate action, and biodiversity.

Twin transition of digital and green economies offers opportunities

Climate variability and change present complex challenges, particularly for vulnerable populations whose livelihoods depend on stable environmental conditions. These challenges are especially pronounced in developing and least-developed countries, where resources to manage the impacts of climate change are often limited. Human activities, such as fossil fuel consumption and deforestation, significantly contribute to climate change in Africa, worsening the situation.

Addressing climate change through a circular economy is crucial for achieving sustainable growth, job creation, and environmental goals. This approach aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG12 – Responsible Consumption and Production. African governments are actively participating in national and international initiatives to promote a circular economy, recognizing its importance for global sustainable growth.

Digitalisation plays a key role in addressing climate challenges and supporting the green transition. However, the underutilisation of digital technologies for productive purposes remains a significant obstacle. The Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa 2020-2030 (Begazo et al 2023) aims to address these challenges by integrating digital technologies across various sectors, including food, recycling, and fashion. Technologies like AI, IoT, blockchain, and digital marketplaces can enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve transparency.

The twin transition of digital and green economies offers significant opportunities, particularly for women and youth. This transition requires diverse skill sets and innovative business models, highlighting the need for education and professional development. However, many African institutions lag in integrating circular economy principles and digital skills training into their curricula. Challenges such as inadequate training programs, lack of resources, and insufficient infrastructure hinder progress.

Integrating circular economy principles and digital skills training

Higher education institutions play a vital role in equipping students with the skills needed for a sustainable future. Professional development for teachers is essential to ensure they can impart knowledge on sustainability and digital skills. Despite these efforts, many African countries face barriers such as limited funding, expertise, and training materials. Addressing these gaps is crucial for advancing the twin transition and achieving sustainable growth in Africa.

The purpose of the TeProD – Improving Teachers and Students Professional Development with Twin Transition in Sub-Saharan Africa project is to empower higher education (HE) teachers with knowledge and skills in green and digital transitions. A notable aspect of this project is its unique integration of green transition, digital transformation, and pedagogical skills enhancement using the TPACK framework, with AI as the overarching approach. TPACK integrates technological knowledge (including AI and digital tools), content knowledge (covering circular economy, digitalization, and twin transition), and pedagogical nowledge (incorporating flipped learning and virtual teaching).

More closely this means that the project combines digitalization and AI expertise with specific educational and environmental knowledge to develop new educational practices, courses, and methods tailored for Ghana and Namibia. This initiative aligns with the European Commission’s Policy Paper on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Learning, Teaching, and Education, offering valuable insights adapted to the African context (EU 2018). The Education 2030 program for Africa emphasizes the need for integrating education, technology, and environmental objectives, highlighting the gap in practical AI-related materials for educators, particularly in the context of climate change and circular economy (UNESCO 2024).

In our TeProD-project, the aim is to enhance the teachers’ capacity in flipped learning and virtual teaching aligned with climate change and circular economy principles. Teachers will gain content knowledge on circular economy through various methods, including onsite training and handbooks. This knowledge is crucial in addressing climate change mitigation and aligns with Africa’s policy documents to combat climate change. Circular economy strategies aim to reduce waste, recycle materials efficiently, and regenerate nature. Teachers, as change agents, play a vital role in climate change mitigation.

The EU-Africa partnership encompasses areas such as education, climate action, and sustainable development, all of which are central to the TeProD-project. TeProD’s goal of equipping teachers with knowledge and skills related to sustainability and green transition contributes to these global efforts. The project aligns with EU’s priorities for building a skilled and adaptable workforcenad the various EU policies and initiatives related to sustainability, digitalization, education, cooperation with Africa, and global development goals. Our project represents a concrete example of how EU-funding can contribute to such overarching policy objectives.

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