Presentation
CampusÁFRICA is a forum for reflection, scientific development and proactive action with regard to the African continent and the tri-continental Atlantic character of the Canary Islands.
Scientific and cultural development play an essential role in the solving of problems currently being faced by our planet, revealed in the Millennium Development Goals and currently formalised in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. In this context, today more than ever, it is imperative to defend the enabling power of science in the development processes and therefore the core value of knowledge for the progress of the society.
CampusÁFRICA is an international training programme that, following the recommendations by UNESCO, promotes forward thinking, proactive attitude and innovation as fundamental values for a higher education based on social responsibility and commitment to the future of our planet.
CampusÁFRICA is hosted by the University of La Laguna (through the University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands and the Centre for African Studies) in collaboration with UNESCO and the organizing institution, the Canary Islands Foundation for Health, Science and Development, under the high patronage of the governments of the Canary Islands and Cape Verde, and with the support of the Tenerife Island Council, the Town Hall of La Laguna, the CajaCanarias Foundation and Obra Social La Caixa.
The first edition of CampusÁFRICA was held in 2014, dedicated to the Sustainable Development Goals. The second edition, held in 2016, was dedicated to the role of Science in the service of African development.
The subject of the third edition (11th - 26th July 2018) is African societies and the challenges of globalisation.
The programme of CampusÁFRICA 2018 includes cultural events and scientific visits, as well as training activities focused on the following three interdisciplinary areas:
- African sustainable development: Challenges and opportunities.
- The African cultural heritage: History, identity and interculturality.
- Africa and global health: Emerging diseases and biomedic research.
Objectives
The main objectives of CampusÁFRICA are the following:
- To create a forum for specialized reflection on Africa's challenges within the framework of the current globalisation process.
- To offer a meeting point for academics, entrepreneurs and professionals involved in strategic development and cooperation with Africa.
- To offer advanced training applied to the problems related to African sustainable development.
- To foster leadership skills among younger generations.
- To boost the role of the Macaronesian region as a relevant geo-strategic space regarding international scientific cooperation.