The first keynote at the 9th PASCAL International Observatory conference in Gaborone, Botswana was presented by Professor Olusola Oyewole of African Union, Addis Ababa on the topic of Regional Engagement for African Universities: Challenges and Prospects. This presentation complemented a series of excellent welcome sessions from the Mayor of Gaborone City, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Botswana and the Chair of the PASCAL Advisory Board.

The supporting keynote presentation outline appears below:

Today PASCAL publishes the first of its new series of Policy Challenge Papers which connect emerging ideas and research to topical policy challenges.   Policy Challenge Paper 1 urges regional authorities to secure the greatest impact from higher education institutions at local level by demanding engagement over issues of importance for regional development.