The Africa America Institute in partnership with the Association of
African Universities would like to invite you to participate in
AAI/AAU COREVIP online discussion forum from 10 February - 9 March
2003. We will be exploring the theme: "How are African Universities
responding to the HIV/AIDS Pandemic?"

This session will also be part of the Africa America Institutes Afri-
can Perspectives Online discussion series and will be the fifth ses-
sion of the series. Previous online discussions, have involved 53
alumni from 26 African countries, focused on topics including African
Perspectives on development and technology, "US and Western Responses
to HIV/AIDS in Africa, and most recently "Workforce Development In
Africa". The discussions are part of a larger African Perspectives
project that also involves live discussions with Africans in Africa
and abroad.

Background
The Association of African Universities (AAU) is an international
non-governmental organization and an apex body set up in 1967 to pro-
mote cooperation among members and to encourage increased contact be-
tween its members and the international academic community.

The Africa-America Institute is a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, non-
profit organization, with offices in New York and Washington, D.C.,
and an on the ground presence throughout Africa. Our mission is to
promote enlightened engagement between Africa and America through
education, training and dialogue.

AAI programs have trained more than 20,000 people throughout Africa,
many who are now among the vanguard in democratization, women's
rights, economic reform and other progressive movements in African
development. These individuals bring their talents to senior posi-
tions in a variety of fields ranging from higher education institu-
tions to private sector companies.

Throughout its history, AAI has blended a focus on advanced training
for Africans with efforts to strengthen U.S.-Africa relations. Ac-
cordingly, AAI plays a unique role in facilitating relationships of
all kinds between Africa and the United States. AAI programs under
this rubric educate American decision-makers about Africa.

The Association of African Universities organizes a biennial Confer-
ence of Rectors Vice Chancellors and Presidents (COREVIP) which
brings together over 200 Participants made up of AAU members, its Ex-
ecutive Board, regional academic bodies, donors and partner institu-
tions interested in the development and growth of higher education in
Africa.

Main Conference theme

The next COREVIP is scheduled to take place from March 17th - 21st
2003 in Mauritius under the main theme: "The Role of African Higher
Education Institutions in the Building of the African Union"

HIV/AIDS sub-theme and activities

At the 2003 COREVIP, in addition to invited papers and presentations
by distinguished scholars and practitioners in the field of HIV/AIDS,
a number of other activities are planned under the sub- theme: "Afri-
can Universities responding to the HIV/AIDS Pandemic".

These activities include:

1. A parallel session on HIV/AIDS to be hosted by UNDP
2. Presentation of AAU's Draft Five-year Core HIV/AIDS Program.
3. Pre-testing of an HIV/AIDS toolkit developed for training the Af-
rican Higher education Leadership.
4. Presentation of results of an online discussion to be held on the
sub-theme prior to the conference

Key questions to be discussed

In connection with (4) above, we are proposing to pose a number of
questions for online discussion. Initial questions we would like to
pose are:
1. As African tertiary education institutions, how do we see our role
and contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS?
2. What are our institutions currently doing in order to con-tribute
to the fight against HIV/AIDS? (Specify the areas).
3. How are we taking into account the gender dimensions of the epi-
demic even as we formulate institutional strategies?
4. What more do we plan or could do to contribute to the fight
against HIV/AIDS. (Please specify)
5. How can we be assisted to do more and by whom?

Dissemination of Results

The results of this online discussion will be presented at the AAU
COREVIP to guide our discussions and conclusions on the way forward.
The focus will be on identifying opportunities for collaboration and
partnerships.

Please visit AAI's website at:
http://www.aaionline.org/whatAfricaPersp.html
as well as AAU's website at:
http://www.aau.org/corevip/2003/

We believe you will find the online discussion a valuable way to
share your experiences, observations and opinions and to learn about
those of other Africans. You will be able to participate entirely via
email, but will also be able to access message archives and other
special features online through the discussion web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AAIAfricanPerspectivesCOREVIP2003/

If you are interested in participating, please email:
[email protected]

or send an e-mail to
John Kiwanuka Ssemakula
with the subject heading
"African Perspectives ­ COREVIP 2003 HIV/AIDS discussion"