On the sidelines of its participation in GITEX AFRICA 2024 (www.GITEXAfrica.com), Epson held a press conference where it unveiled the results of recent research it conducted in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, highlighting the common challenges faced in the Education and Healthcare sectors due to inefficient and unsustainable printing technology.

To meet these challenges, Epson remains committed to providing increasingly innovative, efficient and sustainable printing solutions. The impact of printing on student learning and healthcare staff efficiency is crucial.

Students need printed materials for their learning, but it’s equally important that this printing is both efficient and environmentally friendly. This enables them to access quality educational resources while integrating responsible practices. Similarly, for healthcare staff, having efficient and sustainable printing solutions saves valuable time, which translates into greater efficiency in the delivery of care. This balance between operational efficiency and environmental sustainability in printing is the offering Epson brings to these two vital sectors to support both student learning and quality healthcare.

In the education sector, the vast majority of students (91%) in the MEA region (Turkey, Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Kenya) recognize that printed learning materials help them better understand and retain information. Despite this, they often feel conflicted because they fear that excessive printing is perceived as being harmful to the environment. Nonetheless, the study also showed that 89% of the same respondent students recognize that their learning would be improved if their educational institution had more sustainable printing solutions, such as Heat-Free inkjet printers, which consume less energy and produce less waste than laser printers.

In the health sector, workers in the MEA region lose 5850 hours each year, equating to 731 working days; due to slow or non-functional printers. This loss of time has a negative impact on patient care, leading to delays in updating patient records, booking appointments and sharing information. Healthcare workers are calling for action to improve printing technology and reduce interruptions.

92% of healthcare workers believe their IT department should provide faster, lower-maintenance printers to reduce the difficulties caused by printing interruptions.

Environmental concerns also come into play, with 83% of respondents agreeing that the environmental impact of unsustainable printers is a major concern for them personally.

“In both sectors, the use of Epson’s Heat-Free inkjet printing technology is presented as a sustainable solution. Heat-Free inkjet printers consume less energy than traditional laser printers, and require fewer moving parts and consumables. By switching to this technology, educational establishments and health services could not only improve their operational efficiency, but also help reduce their environmental impact. It would also meet students’ learning needs and improve patient outcomes, while reducing costs and increasing user satisfaction.” says Ilias Azzaoui, Epson General Manager – French-speaking Africa and DomCom.

Visitors can discover Epson solutions at stand 4C-40 in hall 4 of GITEX AFRICA, taking place from May 29 to 31, 2024.

Place Bab Jdid, Boulevard Al Yarmouk – Marrakech (opposite Mamounia Hotel).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GITEX Africa.

Media Contact: 
Siham Zouggarh
Email: siham.zouggarh@briocommunication.com
Tel. : +212 663552985

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About Epson:
Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to co-creating sustainability and enriching communities by leveraging its efficient, compact, and precision technologies and digital technologies to connect people, things, and information. The company is focused on solving societal issues through innovations in home and office printing, commercial and industrial printing, manufacturing, visual and lifestyle. Epson will become carbon negative and eliminate use of exhaustible underground resources such as oil and metal by 2050.
Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the worldwide Epson Group generates annual sales of around JPY 1 trillion.
global.Epson.com/

Coursera (www.Coursera.org), a leading online learning platform, has partnered with the African Leadership University (ALU), the institution dedicated to shaping Africa’s future leaders with ethics, entrepreneurship, and solutions for the continent’s challenges, to enable learners from across Africa to access world-class education and equip them with the necessary skills to thrive in a digital economy.

Education in Africa faces significant challenges. Only about 9% of young people in Sub-Saharan Africa attend tertiary education (https://apo-opa.co/4bJI9WH), compared to the global average of 38%. Moreover, unemployment rates among African youth remain alarmingly high (https://apo-opa.co/3Rc2PP8). This highlights the urgent need for accessible, quality education and skill development to prepare Africa’s workforce for the future.

The Coursera and ALU partnership aims to address these challenges by democratizing education in Africa and promoting equitable learning. ALU’s experiential learning model will seamlessly integrate with Coursera’s technology, making education accessible continent-wide. This ensures access to high-quality courses while equipping learners with practical, job-relevant skills, empowering them for new job opportunities and the digital economy’s growth in the region.

“At ALU, our mission is to shape Africa’s future leaders, and partnerships like this with Coursera play a crucial role in addressing the significant challenges facing education in Africa. By expanding access to world-class education and ensuring that students have the necessary skills to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges, we are not only helping them to thrive but also contributing to Africa’s growth and development,” said Veda Sunassee, CEO of African Leadership University.

To date, the partnership has achieved significant outcomes:

Over 1,500 students from across Africa have benefited.
More than 9,000 courses completed, accumulating over 16,000 enrollments and totaling 61,000 learner hours.
Top courses include:

Solving Problems with Creativity and Critical Thinking (IBM) (https://apo-opa.co/4bJZBKS)
Building Fintech Startups in Emerging Markets (University of Cape Town) (https://apo-opa.co/4bZtI17)
Innovation Through Design (The University of Sydney) (https://apo-opa.co/4bAnR1T)
Ready, Set, Future! Introduction to Futures Thinking (Institute for the Future) (https://apo-opa.co/3wZZ6gC)
Welcome to Game Theory (The University of Tokyo) (https://apo-opa.co/3yMgJRt)

These outcomes demonstrate that learners on the continent are seeking accessible, job-relevant education that can transform their lives and communities.

“At Coursera, we believe that talent is universal, but opportunities are not. Our partnership with ALU is a testament to our commitment to bridging this gap and providing learners in Africa with the skills they need to succeed in the digital economy,” said Kais Zribi, Coursera’s General Manager for the Middle East and Africa. “We are excited to see the incredible impact this collaboration is already having and look forward to expanding our efforts to reach even more learners across the continent.”

ALU not only focuses on theoretical learning but also emphasizes learning through real-world experiences. Over the past two years, Coursera has welcomed approximately 40 students and staff to its headquarters in Mountain View, California, as part of ALU’s Global Leadership program and the Coursera Innovation Bridge initiative led by the Coursera for Africa team. During their time there, participants had the opportunity to meet with Coursera team members and learn about the power of online learning to change lives. They engaged in workshops focused on design, creativity and critical thinking, and also networked with professionals, gaining valuable insights and inspiration for their future careers.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Coursera.

About ALU:
African Leadership University (ALU) provides higher education for a higher purpose. With a state-of-the-art campus in Kigali, Rwanda, and a college in Pamplemousses, Mauritius, ALU is helping train Africa’s leaders and visionaries of tomorrow, through a mix of mission-led study and work experience. Our students develop real-world skills to take on the world’s most pressing challenges. And they take ownership of their learning from day one through our peer and student-led approach – because ALU believes in the power and agency of young people to start shaping the future right now. Together with a world-class faculty and staff, our students are igniting a ripple of positive impact across Africa and the world. To date, 36% of ALU alumni have started 140 unique ventures, created more than 44,000 jobs, and raised almost US$6 million.

About Coursera:
Coursera was launched in 2012 by two Stanford Computer Science professors, Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller, with a mission to provide universal access to world-class learning. It is now one of the largest online learning platforms in the world, with 148 million registered learners as of March 31, 2024. Coursera partners with over 325 leading university and industry partners to offer a broad catalog of content and credentials, including courses, Specializations, Professional Certificates, Guided Projects, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Institutions around the world use Coursera to upskill and reskill their employees, citizens, and students in fields such as data science, technology, and business. Coursera became a Delaware public benefit corporation and a B Corp in February 2021.

Building on its already impressive repertoire of endorsements and accolades, Sandton City (www.SandtonCity.com) in Johannesburg has now been recognised on a global scale for marketing. This past weekend, Africa’s top retail destination was awarded with two honours at the International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC) Global Marketing Awards in the U.S. for professional marketing excellence. The ICSC Global Awards are the most recognized achievement in retail marketing. 

The centre’s 2023 festive season activation, titled Momo’s Magical Adventure, won a silver MAXI Marketing award, while the LEGO, Your Dream Car Generation won a gold Global Visual Victory award. The winners were announced at a prestigious ceremony in Las Vegas, this past weekend, that saw the world’s leaders in the retail industry congregate to recognise excellence and retail innovations.

Momo’s Magical Adventure was an original live theatre production, staged in a bespoke tent in the Sandton City centre court, over the December 2023 holiday. Visitors of all ages flocked to the show to enjoy the heart-warming story with endearing characters and a delightful storyline. The production was commissioned by Sandton City and brought to the stage by an award-winning creative team. Produced by visionary Lyall Ramsden, and under the playful directorial eye of Kirsten Harris, with a musical composition by James Bassingthwaighte, the show was a sensory delight, creation an unforgettable holiday experience. Also this week, the lead actress Tebogo Molepo won best performance in a production for young audiences at the South African Naledi awards, that honour excellence in theatre.

In another first, Sandton City was the first destination on the African continent to host the LEGO® Your Dream Car Generation activation. Spanning over approximately 300sqm, the experience transported shoppers to a riveting deconstructed car manufacturing garage, leveraging high-end technology, to ‘’generate’’ their dream car. With multiple touchpoints throughout the build, including graphics, animation and an interface control panel, the shopper journey enabled car enthusiasts to get creative and add their personal touches to their car design details.

“Sandton City is widely recognised for its iconic activations throughout the year, but especially during holiday seasons, as shoppers of all ages, including from beyond our catchment area, look forward to what we offer,” said Michael Wilson, Chief Marketing Officer for Excellerate Brand Management – EBM, the centre’s marketing agency. “Sandton City continues to leverage key partnerships with iconic and beloved international brands such a LEGO, but we also understand the importance of conceptualising local opportunities, which was the key driver for the creation of Momo’s Magical Adventure. I am thrilled that we have been applauded on an international stage, with Sandton City being the only winner on the African continent,” he added. 

Sandon City’s General Manager and Asset Management Executive, Dimitri Kokinos shared his excitement at the wins: “Last year Sandton City celebrated its 50th birthday, and it was crucial that we continued to host standout activations and experiences that surpass consumer expectations throughout the year. The awards are testament to our commitment to our tenants and customers and demonstrate the world class offering at Sandton City.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Sandton City.

For more information and regular updates go to www.SandtonCity.com or follow the centre on social media @SandtonCitymall.

Contact us:
Management Offices, Ground Floor, Atrium on 5th 
Sandton City
PO Box 78100
Sandton, 2146

Tel: +27 11 217 6000 
Web: www.SandtonCity.com

About Sandton City​:
Sandton City Shopping Centre is renowned amongst both local and international visitors as one of Africa’s leading retail destinations. With an impressive retail, office and leisure space ranking as South Africa’s top performing retail destination in terms of trading density, Sandton City has an effective tenant leasing strategy and a low vacancy level. The shopping centre is home to over 300 of the most exciting local and international brands and presents you with a world of luxury in the exclusive Diamond Walk.

Sandton City is six-star green-star rated by the Green Building Council of South Africa. This is the first super-regional shopping centre on the African continent to achieve such a prestigious rating, representing world leadership in environmentally sustainable operational efficiencies. In accordance with the SHORE accreditation standards by international certification body SAFE Asset Group, Sandton City is certified COVID-19 compliant and has also achieved gold level status as a safe retail destination for its ability to prevent, adapt, respond to, recover and learn from operational disruptions. Adjacent to world-class hotels and mega corporate headquarters, winning multiple Best Shopping Mall awards each year, Sandton City continues to be a leader in mixed-use properties.

Sandton City is co-owned by Liberty Group and Pareto Limited, and managed by JHI Retail Proprietary Limited.

For more information, please visit either www.SandtonCity.com, www.Liberty2Degrees.co.za, www.Pareto.co.za or www.JHI.co.za.

At drupa 2024 (Messe Düsseldorf, 28 May – 7 June 2024, Hall 8a) under the theme ‘The Power to Move’, Canon (www.Canon-CNA.com) is highlighting key partnerships and initiatives that demonstrate the power of collaboration to drive positive change and create experiences that enrich lives and businesses. In line with its Kyosei philosophy of living and working together for the common good, Canon is partnering with a number of businesses and charities and will donate 20,000 books produced during drupa to a variety of causes.

Across the stand, visitors can see many of Canon’s key collaboration activities, including:

World Unseen

At the centre of the Canon stand is ‘The Core’, offering visitors an immersive, multi-sensory exploration of print’s emotional impact and how technology and expertise converge to create imaging experiences that can enrich lives and businesses. The Core brings to life Canon’s ‘World Unseen’ (https://apo-opa.co/3KqYO5x) initiative with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and invites visitors to experience images, shot by renowned photographers, in a unique and inclusive way (see separate press release).

Printworks B2B partnerships

The ‘Printworks’ area of the Canon stand is about ‘People, Planet and What’s Possible’. Visitors can gain inspiration from exploring the various strategies Canon customers have adopted for successful sustainable growth with projects such as ‘Creative Futures’ (see separate press release). This annual project sees Canon collaborating with ‘The Drum’, a global publisher for the marketing and media industries, and other selected expert industry partners. UK-based start-ups are invited to compete for the opportunity to accelerate their marketing through an individualised, omni-channel strategy and print campaign. This year’s winner, Bower Collective, a provider of natural household and personal care products in reusable packaging, has its products and story on display on the Canon drupa stand.

Another initiative within Printworks is Publishing 2030 Accelerator which is focused on bringing about meaningful global progress on sustainability in publishing. Visitors will learn more about Canon’s collaboration with this publishing industry initiative, born out of Canon’s Future Book Forum community, and how Canon is playing an active role in scoping out the conditions for success for a Distributed Printing Network, which could propel the whole industry forward and slash the carbon footprint of every book sold.

Partnerships for good

Printworks will also present information about a number of charitable partners that Canon is supporting through the donation of around 20,000 books. These include the UN SDG Book Club African Chapter, which helps children with a reading list to familiarise themselves with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Lucy Swanston, the founder of UK literacy charity ‘Topic Heroes’, an online book service helping children to enjoy and learn writing, will also be on the Canon stand to raise awareness of this important mission. The charity gives children the chance to write their own stories and submit these via the Topic Heroes’ website. The manuscripts are then digitally printed on demand and the children are presented with a physical copy of the book containing their story. Additional copies are also then given to their school to be read by their peers. Thanks to charitable donations, Topic Heroes is able to support schools and children in lower income areas of the UK by offering this service free of charge. Supported by the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce, Canon and finishing partner Meccanotecnica will donate 1,000 Topic Hero books to Ukrainian children in need of educational materials.

In line with Canon’s goal to minimise the environmental footprint of its exhibition participation, around 10,000 postcards, posters and brochures printed on the Canon stand during drupa will also be donated to German non-governmental organisations.

As part of its commitment to making the arts more accessible, Canon will also be showing its support for the inclusive choir, The White Hands Chorus Nippon (WHCN) (https://apo-opa.co/4bZsByt). The choir, founded by Artistic Director Erika Colon, brings together children with and without physical disabilities, with deaf members conveying sound and emotion through sign language, movement and facial expression. Images from the chorus’s visual interpretation of “Ode an die Freude/Ode to Joy” from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, as well as some of the white gloves and Canon technologies used in the event, are on display on the Canon stand alongside further information about the initiative.

Jennifer Kolloczek, Senior Director, Marketing&Innovation, Production Printing, Canon EMEA, comments: “Images, literature and music enrich lives and we believe that these experiences should be accessible to everyone. Canon has and supports a range of initiatives aimed at fulfilling this ambition and we’re proud to showcase and raise awareness of these causes on our stand at drupa 2024. They are all examples of how we live our corporate philosophy of Kyosei – living and working together for the common good. Through a range of partnerships, we’re working to inspire positive changes for the broader print sector and beyond.”

For more information around these and other initiatives supported by Canon Central and North Africa, speak with our experts on the Canon stand in Hall 8a at this year’s drupa 2024, or visit Canon at https://Canon-CNA.com .

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).

Media enquiries, please contact:
Canon Central and North Africa
Mai Youssef
e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com

APO Group – PR Agency
Rania ElRafie
e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com

About Canon Central and North Africa:
Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (www.Canon-CNA.com) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region – by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.

Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.

Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei (https://apo-opa.co/3yLA5WZ)– ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.

For more information: www.Canon-CNA.com