16

September 2025

Future Africa Campus, University of Pretoria

DAIA Summit 2.0

Transformative Learning Ecosystems:
Lessons Learnt and Ways Forward

Powered by Business Finland and the University of Helsinki, DAIA is a collaborative initiative connecting African and Finnish industry experts and forerunners, innovators, educators and researchers to drive innovation in the digital era. Engage in discussions on the future of education, co-creation, and technological innovations shaping knowledge and skills development. 

Summit Program

About DAIA Summit 2.0

DAIA Summit 2.0 is a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and innovation, bringing together stakeholders from higher education, industry, and policy-making. This year’s theme, Transformative Learning Ecosystems: Lessons Learnt and Ways Forward, focuses on rethinking education and training to address the demands of the Industrial Revolution and sustainable development in Africa.  

The summit will highlight concrete pilot projects and case examples from the DAIA initiative, showcasing real-world applications of transformative learning ecosystems. Discussions will center on lessons learned, challenges faced, and the implications these insights have for shaping future strategies and policies. 

Register Now

About DAIA Summit 2.0

DAIA Summit 2.0 is a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and innovation, bringing together stakeholders from higher education, industry, and policy-making. This year's theme, Transformative Learning Ecosystems: Lessons Learnt and Ways Forward, focuses on rethinking education and training to address the demands of the Industrial Revolution and sustainable development in Africa.  

The summit will highlight concrete pilot projects and case examples from the DAIA initiative, showcasing real-world applications of transformative learning ecosystems. Discussions will center on lessons learned, challenges faced, and the implications these insights have for shaping future strategies and policies. 
Register Now Register Now
RSVP for DAIA Summit RSVP for DAIA Summit

Call for Proposals:
Contribute to the Dialogue

We invite researchers, educators, and industry professionals to submit proposals for paper presentations, best practices, and workshops. Share your insights on learning ecosystems, co-creation processes, frontier technologies, and sustainable growth in education. 

Read more

Purpose and Values

Skill Development: DAIA offers training to build digital skills for the future workforce. 

Innovation Education: DAIA fosters creativity and tech innovation through educational partnerships. 

Economic Empowerment: DAIA promotes entrepreneurship and digital skills to drive economic growth. 

Digital Inclusion: DAIA enhances access to technology and digital education across Africa. 

Transformational Leadership: DAIA develops leaders to spearhead digital transformation in key sectors

DAIA Focus areas

Water management is a critical area for sustainable development, especially in Africa where water scarcity is a pressing issue. The D

AIA initiative focuses on improving water systems through digital innovation and technology-driven solutions.

Alignment with SDGs:

  • SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – DAIA supports efforts to ensure access to safe and affordable drinking water for all, improve water quality by reducing pollution, and increase water-use efficiency through digital monitoring systems.
  • SDG 13: Climate Action – By promoting efficient water usage and smart irrigation technologies, DAIA helps communities adapt to climate-related impacts, especially droughts and water shortages, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change.
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  • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – Innovation in water technology, such as smart sensors and monitoring systems, contributes to building resilient infrastructure that ensures sustainable water management for industries, agriculture, and households.
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Mining plays a major role in many African economies, yet it also brings environmental and social challenges. DAIA aims to transform this sector by integrating technologies that promote sustainable mining practices, reduce environmental impact, and enhance worker safety.

Alignment with SDGs:

  • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – By adopting modern technologies, DAIA encourages safer working environments, greater efficiency, and economic growth in the mining industry, ensuring decent work conditions while driving economic progress.
  • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – Promoting responsible mining practices, DAIA ensures that resources are extracted sustainably and that waste is minimized through the use of digital tools like real-time monitoring systems.
  • SDG 15: Life on Land – Through technological innovation, the initiative aims to reduce the environmental footprint of mining activities, preserving ecosystems and reducing land degradation caused by unsustainable mining practices.

The construction sector is integral to infrastructure development and urbanization across Africa. DAIA works to embed digital tools and innovations into construction practices to promote efficiency, sustainability, and long-term resilience.

Alignment with SDGs:

  • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – By using digital platforms for project management, smart building materials, and automated construction processes, DAIA helps create resilient and sustainable infrastructure that supports inclusive industrialization.
  • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Smart construction technologies enable the development of sustainable housing, energy-efficient buildings, and climate-resilient infrastructure, contributing to the goal of making cities inclusive, safe, and sustainable.
  • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – Green building designs that incorporate renewable energy technologies help reduce energy consumption, promoting the use of clean energy in both urban and rural infrastructure projects.

DAIA’s focus on education and training is designed to bridge the digital skills gap, preparing African students and professionals for the Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolutions. This is key to driving economic empowerment and societal transformation.

Alignment with SDGs:

  • SDG 4: Quality Education – DAIA promotes inclusive, equitable quality education by providing digital tools, online learning platforms, and vocational training tailored to the needs of African students and workers. This helps create a workforce ready for the demands of a digital economy.
  • SDG 5: Gender Equality – The initiative emphasizes the inclusion of women and girls in digital education and technology training, helping to close the gender gap in STEM fields and ensuring equal opportunities in education.
  • SDG 10: Reduced Inequality – Through access to digital education resources, DAIA helps reduce inequalities by ensuring that even the most marginalized communities have access to learning opportunities that can improve their economic prospects.
  • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – By aligning education with industry needs, DAIA ensures that training programs produce job-ready graduates, contributing to sustained economic growth and employment opportunities. 

Explore the Key Takeaways from DAIA Summit 2024

Missed the last DAIA Summit? Get up to speed with the most impactful discussions, innovations, and insights shared by industry leaders, policymakers, and digital education experts.

View Digital Takeaways

Partners

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16 September
2025

Future Africa Campus, University of pretoria

DAIA Summit 2.0

Transformative Learning Ecosystems:
Lessons Learnt and Ways Forward

Powered by Business Finland and the University of Helsinki,
DAIA is a collaborative initiative connecting African and Finnish
thought leaders, educators, researchers and innovators to
drive innovation in digital education. Engage in discussions
on the future of education, co-creation, and technological
innovations shaping knowledge and skills development.

Summit Program Summit Program

About DAIA Summit 2.0

DAIA Summit 2.0 is a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and innovation, bringing together stakeholders from higher education, industry, and policy-making. This year's theme, Transformative Learning Ecosystems: Lessons Learnt and Ways Forward, focuses on rethinking education and training to address the demands of the Industrial Revolution and sustainable development in Africa. The summit will highlight concrete pilot projects and case examples from the DAIA initiative, showcasing real-world applications of transformative learning ecosystems. Discussions will center on lessons learned, challenges faced, and the implications these insights have for shaping future strategies and policies.
Where Future Africa Campus, UP
When 23 October 2024
Summit Program Summit Program
RSVP for DAIA Summit RSVP for DAIA Summit