This archive report was first published on 22 June 2020.
On June 22, 2020, the Association of African Universities (AAU) and digital television operator StarTimes signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on growing access to university education.
The partnership aims to provide university students with greater access to relevant higher education materials, including educational videos focused on diverse disciplines, which will be available on the StarTimes ON streaming application at no cost.
Established in 1967, AAU is the apex higher education organization in Africa, with over 400 institutions of higher learning across the continent.
AAU established the AAU Television ('AAU TV') to promote African scholarship and inter-university collaboration through information exchange and promotion of higher education-related issues.
According to Prof. Etienne Ehouan Ehile, Secretary General of the Association of African Universities (AAU), 'The partnership with StarTimes comes at an opportune time when access to educational content is in high demand as most educational activities have moved online as a result of the outbreak of COVID-19 and its unprecedented outcomes.'
StarTimes Vice-President Luis Lu added, 'We are honored to launch this partnership with the AAU. Our intention is to leverage on this modern platform to expand access to knowledge via AAU approved content.'
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, StarTimes has launched several initiatives to support access to education for students forced to stay at home through partnerships with Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) and other Kenyan platforms.
