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Press Release: Growing Uganda’s Next Generation of Technology Leaders: Applications Open for Cutting-Edge Student Training Program

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May 3, 2021—The Marconi Society today announced that applications are open for the Celestini Program, a workforce development and STEM education initiative that pairs underrepresented students with training, mentorship, funding, and meaningful opportunities to use new technologies to make a difference in their local communities. 

This project is a partnership with the Research Education Network for Uganda (RENU), a cooperative research and education network of Ugandan institutions, ResilientAfrica Network (RANLab), a research and innovation partnership of 23 African universities that nurtures and scales innovations from its member organizations, and Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC), a global leader in network technology and workforce development. 

“We envision a future where practitioners of communications technology are as diverse as the population they need to serve,” says Samantha Schartman-Cycyk, Executive Director of the Marconi Society. “Through this partnership, we bring together decades of experience in networks, mentorship, and workforce training to provide hands-on experience to students who will define the future of STEM.”

“Our vision is to create a national research and education environment in which Uganda’s researchers and scholars effectively contribute to knowledge creation, dissemination and application in solving society’s problems through local and international collaboration,” says Nicholas Mbonimpa, RENU’s Chief Executive Officer. “ This partnership provides a very good opportunity for students and researchers of our member institutions to acquire skills and develop their concepts and ideas into solutions for our community.”

“Our mission is to strengthen resilience in Africa through University-led local innovative solutions using evidenced-based approaches,” says Professor William Bazeyo, RAN Chief of Party/Lab Director. “This partnership is yet another opportunity for our students, innovators, and researchers to positively contribute to addressing diverse and complex challenges in the communities in which we live and serve. As we implement this project activities, we shall also largely leverage RAN’s innovation management expertise and experience to grow community members including ICT faculty and students’’, Prof. Bazeyo added.

The program consists of two tracks:

  • The eduroam: Expanding Remote Access to Information track will provide job training and opportunities in network services management while vastly expanding student and faculty access to university resources on- and off-campus. 
  • The LoRaWAN: Sensor Networks Solving Local Problems track offers students the chance to learn about and use the cutting-edge Long-Range Wide Area Network technology, exploring the solutions this network could offer to community problems. 

All student applicants must be enrolled at a RENU member university to be considered.

eduroam: Expanding Remote Access to Information 

Applications due May 28, 2021

This workforce development initiative is for undergraduate students entering their final year of university and provides the opportunity to gain skills in identity management and database administration, mentorship from global leaders in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), and post-program engagement managing their university’s rollout of eduroam.

By deploying and maintaining this technology across universities in Uganda, this project aims to develop a more robust infrastructure of interconnected higher education institutions by widening access to educational resources and communications. The program runs for eight weeks, after which students will be required to support the ICT team of their university during their final year to manage the ongoing administrative and technical responsibilities of the service, possibly leading to future jobs in these areas.

Students must be enrolled in and pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, or telecommunications engineering at the time of application.

Applications open May 1 and are due by the end of the day, May 28, EAT. The program runs for eight weeks, from Monday, June 21 through Friday, August 20 . Participating students must attend an on-site training in Kampala at the RENU Secretariat.

LoRaWAN: Sensor Networks Solving Local Problems

Applications due June 18, 2021

This initiative is for graduate (Master’s or PhD) student proposals to use a LoRaWAN (Long-Range Wide Area Network) environment to create technology proofs of concept that address local community needs, with guidance from mentors who are global leaders in ICT, technical and equipment support from NSRC, and funding up to $5,000 per project from the Marconi Society. 

NSRC will partner with the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Italy to provide technical support, training materials, and assist Ugandan faculty researchers and students with procuring sensors and LoRaWAN gateway equipment to enable sustainable deployments in the field.

The goal of this track is to allow students to get hands-on experience using new technology while partnering with the community and thinking creatively about user-focused applications. In order to ensure community input, each project should include collaboration with at least one community-based organization. 

Applications open May 1 and are due by the end of the day, June 18, EAT. The program runs through the 2021–2022 academic year, beginning August 1, 2021. It is designed to be compatible with a full course load. While student applicants are not required to be enrolled in technical programs, it is suggested that applicants outside of ICT-based fields enlist a collaborator with the skills to use LoRaWAN technology.

History of the Program

Celestini: Uganda is an extension of the Celestini Program, the Marconi Society’s experiential learning initiative developed by its Paul Baran Young Scholars. It aims to create a strong and diverse engineering profession by pairing students with resources to gain hands-on technical experience while pursuing projects that address community needs.

Past student-led projects include using sensing technology to monitor air quality in India, addressing water waste in Colombia using Internet of Things technology and machine learning, and increasing civic engagement in Rwanda through a mobile application.

The Celestini Program operates using a partnership model, wherein a local institution collaborates with leaders in the Marconi Society’s network to empower students to use new technologies to address local problems with guidance from leaders in ICT. 

About the Marconi Society

The Marconi Society envisions a world in which everyone can create opportunity through the benefits of connectivity. The organization celebrates, inspires, and connects individuals building tomorrow’s technologies in service of a digitally inclusive world.

About the Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC)

The Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC) works directly with the indigenous network engineers and operators who develop and maintain the Internet infrastructure in their respective countries and regions by providing technical information, engineering assistance, training, donations of networking books, equipment and other resources.

About Research Education Network for Uganda (RENU)

Research and Education Network for Uganda (RENU) is a nonprofit National Research and Education Network (NREN) that offers affordable services uniquely designed to enable collaboration among its member institutions and their global partners. The network is a cooperatively owned and community-driven service provider that helps to facilitate research and education networking among its member institutions.

About ResilientAfrica Network (RANLab)

The ResilientAfrica Network (RAN), funded by USAID, is a research and innovation partnership of 23 Universities across 16 African countries led by Makerere University. RAN strengthens and builds the resilience of African communities by identifying, nurturing and scaling cross disciplinary innovations to respond to community most pressing challenges.

Support

The Celestini Program is supported by the Thornton Tomasetti Foundation.

Contact:

Caroline Tuhwezeine
Communications Officer, RENU
communications[at]renu.ac.ug

Harriet Adong
Director of Communications, Learning & Knowledge, RANLab
hadong[at]ranlab.org

Taia Pandolfi
Marketing & Communications Manager, the Marconi Society
taia[at]marconisociety.org

Mark Wamai

Innovation

AI4Health Incubation Grant

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AI4Health Incubation Grant: Access commercialization support and seed capital in Partnership with Makerere AI and Data Science Lab, Marconi Lab@Mak and Science, Technology, and Innovation Secretariat (STI-S)

Background

The Artificial Intelligence in Health Incubation Grant Program is an initiative led by STI Pathogen Labs, focused on advancing AI-driven health innovations in Uganda. In collaboration with the Science, Technology, and Innovation Secretariat (STI), Marconi Lab, and AI Lab Makerere, this program supports the commercialization of AI-based health technologies.

Serving as an early-stage business incubator, the program aims to transform AI health-tech innovations, products, and processes into viable, scalable businesses capable of significantly impacting the health sector.

One selected innovator will receive exclusive support, including grant funding, specialized training, technical assistance, and investor-readiness coaching. This initiative empowers entrepreneurs to develop sustainable, impactful ventures in health technology.

Program Overview

The program will incubate one innovative project with a prototype or Minimum Viable Product (MVP) through a structured one-year incubation process. It will offer business development support and seed funding to facilitate product development and market expansion for the chosen solution.

The program will offer a comprehensive support package that includes:

  • One-Year Incubation:  Access to workspace, mentorship, and resources to develop your innovative solution towards commercialization.
  • Initial Capital (Pre-seed):  Funding to conduct market research, product launch and market validation
  • Expert Mentorship:  Guidance from industry experts and experts in AI and healthcare.
  • Networking Opportunities:  Connect with investors, healthcare professionals, and potential partners.
  • Workshops and Training:  Participate in workshops and training sessions to enhance your business and technical skills.

We have a total of UGX 100M to 250M in funding available.

Who is eligible to apply?

We invite startup companies and innovative teams to apply for our grant program, designed to support projects that leverage Artificial Intelligence to address critical healthcare challenges.

Startups/Innovators should possess the following attributes:

  • Stage: Innovations with a prototype or Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
  • Focus Area: Projects that leverage Artificial Intelligence to address healthcare challenges.
  • Team: A team with diverse skills, including technical, business, and domain expertise.
  • Commitment: Willingness to commit to the one-year incubation program and actively participate in all activities.

If you are part of a startup or you are an innovator with a project that aligns with these goals, we encourage you to apply and be part of advancing AI-driven solutions for a healthier future.

NB: This grant is restricted to Ugandan startups/innovators

Application Deadline: Monday 23rd September 2024

View Details/Apply Now

Mak Editor

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Innovation

STI-OP Call For Applications: Knowledge-Based Goods and Services

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Some of the equipment commissioned at the Innovation Pod, Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility, Makerere University. Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Scope

The Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat – Office of the President (STI-OP) has a Goal of Growing the Contribution of Knowledge-Based Goods and Services to the National Economy by Increasing Domestic Productivity, Import Substitution and Export of Products resulting from Science, Technology and Innovation. Toward this goal, STI-OP calls for applications from individuals/institutions targeting Grant awards for R&D and innovations (process, products, technology or business models) in the following Thematic Areas:

a) Pathogen Economy
■ Therapeutics
■ Vaccines
■ Diagnostics
■ Biomedical Technologies

b) Mobility
■ Localization of Supply Chain for Automotive Parts, Systems and Components
■ Local manufacturing of vehicles, 2-wheelers, 3-wheelers and wheelchairs
■ E-Mobility Solutions
■ Sustainable Mass Transit Solutions
■ Road Safety

c) Infrastructure Innovations
■ Packaging technologies
■ Mineral resources and materials
■ Waste management
■ Transport infrastructure technologies
■ Sustainable energy technologies and applications

d) Industry 4.0+
■ Local design and manufacture of electronics
■ Climate Technologies
■ Deep Technologies
■ Automation Technologies
■ Cloud Computing Technologies
■ E-Government solutions

e) Aeronautics and Space
■ Aerospace systems, subsystems and components
■ Earth Observation Technologies

f) Productivity Acceleration
■ Productivity acceleration/value addition technologies and tools for crops, animals, and
fish products.

g) STI Support Services
■ Innovative Platforms for Public Uptake of STI
■ R&D into Product Market Fit for Local Innovations
■ Innovative Technologies and Initiatives for STI Human Capital Development
■ Market access channels and technologies

Grant Amount

Grant applications will be evaluated based on the merit of the scope of work and funding need. In consultation with the applicants, STI-OP may review the scope of work for selected proposals based on funding available.

Eligibility

■ The call is open to Ugandan individuals and institutions (industries, research institutions, Government MDAs etc)
■ A person must not be a lead applicant on more than one application.
■ Staff of STI-OP are not eligible to apply.

Application Process

  1. Complete the online Application form by September 18th, 2024, at 11:59pm EAT. Ensure that all mandatory attachments are submitted. The Application form is available at https://grants.sti.go.ug/.
  2. Alternatively, deliver hardcopies of the completed application form together with all attachments to STI-OP Office, Plot 106 Katalima Road, Naguru, by September 18th, 2024, at 6.00pm EAT.

Timeline

  • Application Deadline September 18th, 2024, 11:59pm EAT
  • Feedback to Applicants September 25th, 2024

Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered for funding.

Disclaimer

Submitted applications will undergo a rigorous evaluation process. Therefore, the application does not guarantee funding.

The information provided to STI-OP is strictly confidential and remains the property of the applicants unless otherwise spelled out in the Grant Agreement for funded proposals.

For inquiries, contact: grants@sti.go.ug

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Humanities & Social Sciences

Mak develops new model to aid teaching of Maths in Lower Secondary Curriculum

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Makerere University has developed a new Mobile Application to aid the teaching of Mathematics using performing arts in Lower Secondary Curriculum.

“Mathematics is very important in life. The Government Policy on Science Education declared mathematics compulsory for lower secondary school learners as the driver of all sciences. However, the performance of students in mathematics is inadequate. Most students fear mathematics. Others believe mathematics is very hard,” said Prof. Sylvia Antonia Nakimera Nannyonga-Tamusuza, the Principal Investigator of the project.

She noted that despite numerous government interventions, including improving teachers’ conditions, teaching facilities and infrastructure, learners’ performance of Mathematics is still not impressive. 

Principal Investigator – Prof. Sylvia Antonia Nakimera Nannyonga-Tamusuza

To address this problem, Prof. Nannyonga-Tamusuza working with a team of researchers from Makerere University and the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) focused on using the power of performing arts, which includes music, dance, drama, story-telling, and visual-audio arts to make the studying of mathematics more captivating and enjoyable.

The research team developed the MusickingMaths App to enhance the teaching of Mathematics through music. The App is an interactive digital platform between the learner and the knowledge facilitator to support the learners in creating songs about mathematical concepts learned. 

Prof. Nannyonga-Tamusuza explained that the created songs are shared with the knowledge facilitator for evaluation and feedback on the learners’ performance of the mathematical concepts.

She made the remarks during the dissemination of research findings of the project titled Integrating Performing Arts to Enhance Teaching/Learning Mathematics in Lower Senior Secondary Schools in Uganda (IPATELMASS) at Makerere University on June 25, 2024.

Prof. Nannyonga-Tamusuza explained that the new model is an intervention to improve the teaching/learning of mathematics in lower secondary schools in Uganda. She pointed out that IPATELMASS is a participatory action-based research project whose main objective was to inform the development of an Integrated Performing Arts-Mathematics Teaching Learning (IPAMTeL).

Funded by the Government of Uganda through the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF), the collaborative venture brought together researchers from the performing arts and mathematics experts from Makerere University, the National Curriculum Development Centre, National Teachers’ Colleges and mathematics teachers from Mubende. 

“This Project speaks to Uganda’s National Development Plan IV, which attributes the poor economic performance to the limited application of science, innovation, and technology,” Prof. Nannyonga-Tamusuza elaborated.

The findings of this research, which was conducted using learners from Mubende Army Secondary School and Kitenga Secondary School in Mubende District, indicate that learners improved in comprehension, critical-thinking skills, concentration span, and memory retention of mathematical concepts and principles.

Other outcomes include improved understanding: learners were better at comprehending mathematical concepts through visualisation and experiencing abstract ideas through performance and dramatization, learners improved other intrinsic values, such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and tolerance.

Prof.Nannyonga-Tamusuza told participants that the learners developed positive attitudes towards Mathematics.

“Learners’ attitudes shifted, making them more positive and open to learning mathematics,” Prof. Nannyonga-Tamusuza added.

Learners and their teacher from Mubende Army School

This was re-affirmed by the learners from Mubende Army School who testified that their participation in the research project completely changed their negative perception about mathematics. “Participating in the Makerere University project proved to us that mathematics can be taught anytime (in the morning, afternoon and evening hours).  Previously, we thought math was so hard, that it could only be taught in the morning hours.”

Consequently, the learners from Mubende Army School appreciated Makerere University for integrating performing arts into the teaching of math, which has made learning enjoyable.

The research team came up with a number of recommendations including; the need for teacher training and professional development and specialised training for teachers to integrate performing arts into mathematics instruction effectively. As such, resources and funding must be allocated to professional development programs that provide teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge.

Chief Guest Hajji Ismael Mulindwa, Director of Basic and Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education and Sports

Additionally, researchers recommended: further research on how student learning and achievement can be assessed or evaluated in arts-integrated mathematics education, research and development; the need to support ongoing research and evaluation of the effectiveness of arts-integrated mathematics education and community engagement; as well as policies that encourage partnerships between schools, arts organisations, and community stakeholders so as to enhance arts-integrated education.

The Principal, College of Humanities and Social Science (CHUSS), Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala who represented Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe appealed to the Government of Uganda to provide more research funds saying times have changed due to technological advancement. 

Prof. Nambalirwa Nkabala proclaimed that the launch of the model that integrates performing arts into the learning of math, was testimony that both the sciences and humanities can work together to make the world a better place.

She commended Prof. Nannyonga-Tamusuza and the research team from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences for taking on a multi-disciplinary approach to research that brought on board scientists, mathematicians, as well as partners in the education sector namely the National Curriculum Development Centre and the schools.

She appreciated the research team for coming up with a solution to address the inadequate performance of students in mathematics.

“With research that seeks to improve the studying of mathematics, Makerere University is fully endowed to make contribution towards the development of Uganda,” Prof. Nambalirwa Nkabala stated.

Launching the IPAMTeL model, the Chief Guest Hajji Ismael Mulindwa, Director of Basic and Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education and Sports applauded Makerere University for taking the lead in solving a national problem.

Part of the audience following proceedings

“I encourage our schools to emulate Makerere to spice up mathematics,” he guided. “I appeal to researchers to do more research in the education sector so as to inform policy.”

Hajji Mulindwa hailed the University Management and the Grants Management Committee for putting the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund to good use.

On behalf of the National Curriculum Development Centre, Dr. Bernadette Nambi, the Director Curriculum Review and Instructional Material Development said the model will not only enhance teaching in the lower curriculum, but also contribute to holistic learning. She noted that the model makes the student the centre of learning and helps teachers to bring mathematics closer to the learners through making it easier for learners to remember concepts.

The Academic Registrar of Makerere University, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi implored the different units at Makerere University to work together to bring the best out of each discipline. “This is the away to go. I believe the time is right for the different departments to work together,” Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi said.

He appealed to the university lecturers to invest more time in mindset change and create awareness about the need for the same among the teaching class and community at large.

Ritah Namisango

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