The second Planning and Coordination Meeting of the Pan African University took place on 29 October 2020. Organized against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was held online. This was also the first coordination meeting held in the presence of the two new Directors of PAUGHSS and PAULESI.

The meeting was chaired by Prof. Kassa Belay, Deputy Rector, who delivered a welcome address and opened the session, after approval of agenda by all the participants.

Taking the floor after Prof. Kassa, the Directors of PAU institutes presented each, updated reports of their institutes since the last coordination meeting held from 11 to 12 February 2020.

In her presentation, Prof. ABENGA, Director of PAUGHSS, started by giving more insight into academic affairs in the institute under her supervision. She presented the batches on campus from January to October 2020 and drafted the academic calendar for Master and PhD. students in the Soa and Buea campuses.

Regarding administrative affairs, she reported on the meetings held at PAUGHSS including meetings with staff, students and alumni. She also discussed tasks in progress as well as staffing issue, with the welcoming of the new PAUTRAIN Coordinator on 4 September 2020. She ended her presentation by raising some challenges and suggesting a way forward.

Prof. Abdellatif Zerga, Director of PAUWES made a detailed presentation focusing of 5 key points including:

• Academic activities: progress and challenges;
• Administration and finances during the Covid-19 pandemic;
• Brief on Research and cooperation;
• Entrepreneurship and Employability;
• Rehabilitation and equipment-Update.

Prof. Esther AKINLABI, Director of PAULESI, made an updated presentation on PAULESI. She reported on the academic calendar and teaching-learning activities. With regard to the latter, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a hybrid mode of course delivery and learning. In other words, lectures were delivered online via Zoom, MicrosoftTeams and WhatsApp. Theses were conducted virtually and students could not go on internship. She also revealed that the 2020 graduation ceremony will be conducted virtually.

She further discussed administrative related matters at PAULESI indicating that staff provided administrative support both virtually and physically. She further reported on the media visibility of the institute and extracurricular activities, and presented some collaborative efforts. She ended her report by raising some challenges including the lack of institute-owned laborator. .

Prof. Gabriel Magoma from PAUSTI also updated the audience on the current situation at PAUSTI. His detailed presentation focused on the following:

• Schedule of Activities
• Meetings and Lectures
• Current status of students
• Finance
• Member state representation
• Journal publication
• Infrastructure
• Finance & Staff Challenges

Following the presentation of reports, a proposal was made in relation to the allocation of scholarship to students. Another issue discussed during the meeting was the preparation of the upcoming PAU Council Meeting in November 2020.

Moreover, the tentative period for the admission new students was proposed to be between mid-January and early February 2021.

This meeting was an occasion to take stock of the overall functioning of the university and it clearly appears that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, activities have been running smoothly at the various PAU institutes and the Rectorate, as the University was able to adapt to the current sanitary context.

For further information please contact:

Chancelle Bilampassi Moutsatsi

E-mail: BilampassiC@africa-union.org