The Pan-African School for Emerging Astronomers (PASEA) formally known as West African International Summer School for Young Astronomers (WAISSYA) has remained one of the flagship projects of the West African Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (WAROAD), since the first edition was initiated in year 2013. The school is primarily designed as an innovative short-course in astronomy for university students, outreach program for high school students cum teachers at local universities. PASEA gives students the opportunity to develop their interest in astronomy, inspire their scientific curiosity cum enhance their practice of scientific thinking; while instructors have the opportunity of exchanging educational ideas between Africa and the rest of the world. PASEA is organized and taught through a global collaboration of astronomers using effective and efficient educational/research principles. It consists of: (1) An intensive pre-school workshop for instructors on inquiry-based teaching which helps instructors build collaborations by working together in pairs; and (2) Two other parallel streams for participants: undergraduate stream which covers the basics of astronomy/space science, and post-graduate stream which focuses on optical and radio astronomy research. PASEA 2021 will combine: lectures, interactive problem-solving sessions, hand-on experience, inquiry-based activities, astronomy outreach program and symposia to drive home knowledge transfer that will guarantee the human capacity needs of Africa. With these collaborations between Africans and the rest of the world through PASEA, a sustained implementation of this program over time would lead to an increase in the number of students/individuals who are confident in applying the innovative scientific skills learned to their individual studies, researches or careers; as well as motivated to further the skills learned, leading to an enhanced employability and greater contributions to the African economy.
Cotnact: Chukwujekwu Ofodum, ofonworah@gmail.com