The ENGAGE Project is gearing up for intensive training to empower young women across six universities in Kenya. Scheduled for August 2024, this 20-day residential training will equip participants with Data science and analytic skills to tackle critical health challenges in their communities.

Early this week, mentors and trainers from regional universities gathered for a workshop focused on enhancing pedagogical skills, micro teaching skills, and learner focused content delivery methodologies. Experts from University of Nairobi, the University of California San Francisco, and regional Universities collaborated to ensure readiness of the training, specifically designed for young women in Diploma and Undergraduate courses.

 

Professor Julius Oyugi, Principal Investigator of the ENGAGE Project, emphasized the importance of this preparatory phase. “The curriculum is validated and integrated, ready to train young women in data science with a focus on areas crucial to local and global health,” he stated during the workshop’s opening remarks. Participants were encouraged to engage with the pedagogical strategies to leverage networking opportunities that foster collaboration among regional coordinators.

The ENGAGE Project aims to address the under-representation of women in data science, thereby enhancing the accuracy and inclusivity of health data analytics. By leveraging machine learning, predictive analytics can identify at-risk individuals early, enabling targeted interventions and optimizing resource allocation in healthcare.

As the workshop concludes today, the stage is set for the UON, UCSF and the six collaborating Universities to to pilot this transformative training. With a robust curriculum and equipped trainers, the initiative is poised to empower a new generation of female leaders in data science, machine learning and AI for public health. Through their efforts, these young women are expected to drive meaningful change in health outcomes within their communities and beyond.