The Ife Institute of Advanced Studies is excited to announce the theme of its 8th Annual Summer Institute: “Building Communities of Practice: Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Academic Leadership in Africa.” Convened by Professor Jacob Kehinde Olupona of Harvard University, the institute boasts over five hundred fellows across the continent. This year, the institute will host 70 early career, doctoral, and post-doctoral scholars at Ilé-Ifẹ̀ and over 100 remotely for two weeks of critical conversation, workshops, and mentoring sessions.
This prestigious event will take place from July 22nd to August 2nd, 2024, at the African Centre of Excellence, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ilé-Ifẹ̀, Nigeria. The Institute will gather renowned scholars, researchers, educators, policymakers, professionals, practitioners, and leaders from diverse fields to engage in meaningful discussions and collaborative activities.
The theme underscores the vital role of interdisciplinary collaboration and strong academic and public leadership in addressing Africa’s complex challenges. The Summer Institute aims to foster a vibrant network of professionals committed to innovative research, entrepreneurship, and impactful scholarship.
The Summer Institute will welcome distinguished scholars from various prestigious institutions, including Harvard University; Wake Forest University, North Carolina; Princeton Theological Seminary; Amherst College; Elon University, North Carolina; Stony Brook University, New York; University of Pennsylvania; UMass Boston John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies; Boston University; University of Delaware; Regent University; Yale University; Penn State University; Mount Royal University, Canada; York University, Toronto; Glasgow Caledonian University; University of Ghana, Legon; L’Ecole Normale Supérieure for the Letters and Humanities, Bouzareah, Algiers; University of Nairobi; University of Lagos; University of Ibadan, and the host institution, Obafemi Awolowo University, among others.
This year, His Excellency, the Honourable Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Oluwaseyi Abiodun Makinde, will grace the occasion as the Distinguished Guest of Honour. The keynote speech will be delivered by Professor Adélékè Adéẹ̀kọ́, Humanities Distinguished Professor of English and African American and African Studies at Ohio State University. The program features workshops on interdisciplinary research methods, community engagement, and leadership development. Panels will feature distinguished speakers sharing insights on building effective communities of practice within African academic and professional landscapes. The Institute is designed to foster connections, networking opportunities, and collaborations among participants, encouraging the exchange of ideas and best practices. Participants will also tour cultural and heritage sites and visit the institute’s permanent site.
Professor Olupona stated that this year’s theme reflects the Institute’s commitment to advancing knowledge and leadership through collaborative efforts. By building communities of practice, we can drive sustainable development and innovation across Africa.
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