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ALBANY, GA -- Dr. Titi Oladunjoye is from Africa. He’s bringing along his experiences during a trip with his colleagues to Burkina, Faso in Africa for an educational development initiative.

"I had my beginnings in Africa and I have seen what was done before and by going there we'll be able to help in shaping what the African education should look like," he says.

Three Albany State University educators are headed to Africa after being invited to participate in the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) and the Ministry of Education and Literacy of Burkina Faso Triennale on Education and Training. 

"The reality is we live in a global society and the global society is not just about a map on the wall; it’s about experiences that help us understand who different types of people are," says Dr. Kimberly King-Jupiter, dean of the College of Education who is attending the forum. “The struggle for a better quality of education is a global struggle and the challenges of educating students are also global.” 

The 2012 ADEA Triennale is a forum for policy discussion about education and training that will develop education and training systems that will provide the human capital Africa needs for its sustainable development.

King-Jupiter says both rural Southwest Georgia and rural Africa face similar educational struggles: Both are focusing on vocational and technical schools to help better economic sustainability.

"Here in Dougherty County we're beginning to look at career academies as Africa is looking at vocational and technical areas as being the major force for them. I definitely see that similarity," says Dr. Kimberly Fields, interim chair for the College of Education and another ASU educator attending the Triennale.

Oladunjoye says, based on his knowledge, rural Africa urgently needs American educator's help with technology innovation and updates.

"Our colleagues from all the colleges even from the state colleges, we're going to bring back information that will help us help them," he says.

The educators hope to also open up a partnership between Southwest Georgia and Burkina Faso and further open up communication and more visits to learn about bettering the country’s education system.

"There'll be a youth contention who will be there, so I look forward to hearing what the youth have to say about what they feel their significant challenges are and then what's working and what's doing well," says Fields.

The Triennale will be held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Feb. 12 through Feb. 17 at the Ouagadougou 2000 International Conference Centre.