The collaboration between the University of Nairobi (UoN), University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT), successfully held an official handover ceremony on July 22nd, 2024, where 21 computers were handed to DeKUT to facilitate the training of young undergraduate women in data science for public health in August 2024 under ENGAGE Project. This joint effort will see to it that the computers are instrumental in providing hands-on learning experience to the learner and foster innovation.
The Vice-Chancellors of both DeKUT and the University of Nairobi, Prof. Peter Muchiri and Prof. Stephen Kiama, respectively, along with other key stakeholders from UNITID, DASCLAB and UCSF, were present at the ceremony. Prof. Julius Oyugi, the Principal Investigator of the ENGAGE project, emphasized the project’s goal of bridging the gender gap in data science and AI, with only 22% of data scientists being women globally. The project seeks to build the capacity of girls and young women through AI and data science to provide solutions and reduce biases in public health
Prof. Muchiri expressed his gratitude for the collaborative opportunity and the project’s aim to empower girls and young women from underserved backgrounds. “The project is doing what it needs to do, providing quality solutions to real life issues by involving local people in bid to create real impact. All these efforts are indeed building blocks that will equip the next generation,’ he added. Prof. Kiama also appreciated the efforts and ingenuity of the ENGAGE project in fostering impactful relations.
The ceremony culminated in the signing of a Collaborative Research Agreement (CRA) by the heads of the two institutions, emphasizing their commitment to supporting the project’s objectives. In his closing remarks, Dr. Kamanu, ENGAGE Project Co-PI, further reiterated the commitment and dedication to achieving the goals of empowering and equipping young women with data science skills in public health to tackle health challenges in their communities.
