The All-Africa Students Union (AASU) is the largest student movement in Africa and a very dominant force on the Continent and beyond. The Union, being the umbrella organization for all students of Africa, represents tens and millions from the basic level to institutions of higher learning. Since its inception in 1972, AASU now has presence in 54 Countries in Africa. The Union played an important role in the struggle against colonialism and the ending of apartheid in South Africa. Today, AASU is at the forefront of the fights for equal access to quality education, quality assurance in higher education, harmonization of higher education systems – with key emphasis on the mobility of academics and comparability of qualifications, democratic governance, defending students’ rights, promotion of gender and African culture, sustainable development, entrepreneurship, fostering of academic freedom, freedom of research and autonomy of higher institutions of learning, and the promotion of peace and democratic values, and other noteworthy objectives. In the year 2000, the UN awarded AASU a certificate of merit in recognition of the Union’s efforts at advancing students’ rights and championing the democratization of education across the African Continent. See: http://www.un.org/press/en/2000/20000410.dev2241.doc.html
The Union is wholly student-run and student-led, autonomous, representative, democratically elected and operates according to democratic principles. The executive structure of the Union is representative of all the sub-regions across the Continent. AASU’s key strength lies in its diversity and numerical strength (representing tens and millions of African Students), which it leverages as a bargaining tool to advocate for the supreme interests of students. The Union is made up of diverse students, regardless of their religion, gender, cultural background, political persuasion, ethnic origin, or social standing. The Union achieves its core mandate through:
● Advocacy – The Union campaigns actively in defence of students’ rights, and the passage of policies on the need for the democratization of education across the Continent, with emphasis on access, equity and equality.
● Capacity Development – The Union facilitates education and training to build the capacities of students through conferences, seminars, training programs and educational materials to enhance the potential of graduates to access decent jobs, develop their leadership skills and significantly improve their skill sets.
● Networking – The Union creates the platform and environment for networking amongst members aimed at building closer relations for healthy partnerships.
● Partnerships – The Union constantly seeks out collaborative partnerships with like-minded organizations to work together to advance progressive agendas. Education and Students Right
2. Capacity Building
4. Environment and Climate Action
5. Pan-Africanism and African Culture
6. Migration and Mobility
7. Democracy and Good Governance
