FOME Alliance broadens its horizons with addition of Henley Africa

Henley Business School Africa has become the first business school from Africa to join the FOME Alliance, a network focused on innovation in online learning.

Founded in 2018, the FOME Alliance pools expertise and drives research across its network with the aim of delivering flexible, engaging programmes that meet the needs of today's busy and often on-the-go learners. With the addition of Henley Africa, which forms part of the UK’s University of Reading, there are now 14 member institutions of FOME. These include EDHEC Business School in France, Western University’s Ivey Business School in Canada and the Lee Kong Chian School of Business at Singapore Management University.

“This alliance gives us an unparalleled opportunity to learn, share and co-create the future of management education alongside top-tier global institutions. Joining FOME is a pivotal step towards our goal of becoming the number one Al business school in Africa by 2030,” said Henley Africa dean Jon Foster-Pedley.

“As the first African business school in this prestigious alliance, we're not just another member – we are a voice for the continent,” elaborated the school’s head of innovation, Jonathan Stock. “Henley Africa will bring a vital African perspective to the global stage and share our expertise in integrating technologies like virtual reality (VR) and Al into the learning experience. We have already hit the ground running, joining key task forces on teaching and learning, edtech and Al to ensure our insights contribute directly to keeping business education around the world current, relevant and impactful.”

Harald Øverby, FOME Alliance chair and a special advisor for Al and technology at Bl Norwegian Business School, spoke of the value of recruiting Henley Africa to the network: “Their membership further strengthens our collective commitment to developing innovative, internationally focused degree programmes.”

“Henley Africa brings a distinctive perspective and deep regional expertise that will enrich our international network and enhance the learning opportunities we provide to students and executives worldwide,” added Steve Muylle, the alliance’s deputy chair and a professor at Vlerick Business School, Belgium.

Alongside its programme portfolio, Henley Africa conducts a broad range of research relevant to the African context in areas that encompass AI, digital learning, VR and immersive learning.