The ENGAGE Project hosted a content integration, validation, and delivery workshop this week in Naivasha. The goal of the workshop was to validate the curriculum content from the public health and data science content writers and then integrate it together.The workshop also allowed for an opportunity to deliberate on the mode of delivery of the content for both face to face training and virtual training.
The workshop was attended by a high level delegation from University of Nairobi, Department of Analytics Scientific and Computing Lab (DASCLAB), University of California San-Francisco (UCSF) led by Dr. Kamanu and Dr. Koki respectively and expert faculties from Kabarak University, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology(DeKUT), Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST), Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), Pwani University, South Eastern University of Kenya (SEKU) and Strathmore University.
The content is designed to spark and cultivate girls’ interest in data science and public health to help improve health outcomes. This will be delivered within 20 days of learning for the ENGAGE Diploma students in Technical Vocational and Education Training (TVET) and Undergraduate students; Tier 2 and 3 respectively in six regional universities across Kenya. Data science content including programming variables, data types and basic data manipulation curriculum is designed to provide learners with a robust foundation and practical skills essential for community engagement with the existing public health issues.
During the week-long stakeholder engagement, comprehensive discussions on topics spanning Data Science, Public Health, and Artificial Intelligence were held. Through peer and lay reviews, appropriate improvements were recommended and implemented on the content to ensure a cutting-edge curriculum fit to transform young naive girls into an empowered knowledgeable woman in data science, address public health challenges in their community and close the gender gap in data science. This collaborative effort is implemented by the University of Nairobi Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (UNITID) and the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) with six other regional universities in Kenya.
In his remarks during the opening of the workshop, Professor Julius Oyugi, Director of the Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases (UNITID) and Principal Investigator (PI) for ENGAGE Project emphasized the significance of stakeholder engagement and collaboration in achieving a shared goal of empowering girl. ‘The content we are validating and integrating is going to impact the Girl’s life by equipping them with Machine Learning and AI skills to tackle health challenges in their communities and county governments by analyzing and visualizing health data to influence policy and inform decision making which is going improve health outcomes,’ Prof Oyugi said. The public health content discussed foundational concepts like Public Health Issues and Health Equity and more specialized domains such as Health Informatics
The workshop emphasized strongly on the importance of accessing Public Health Data, while observing Ethical Data Utilization practices. The projects aim to provide a good platform for the intersection of policy and practice, equipping learners with essential knowledge to navigate regulatory landscapes as upcoming data scientists and contribute to the public health issues prevalent in their communities. The ENGAGE Project is a capacity-building program focused on equipping girls from underprivileged backgrounds with skills and expertise in health-focused training to empower them to tackle health.
With all content meticulously reviewed, revised, and seamlessly integrated, the workshop marks a significant milestone in the ENGAGE Project’s journey. As the content timetable stands completed and discussions on delivery modes to include a practical delivery approach continue, we stand on the apex of an exciting new chapter. Energized by our progress, we eagerly anticipate welcoming the first cohort of learners in August 2024. With our sights set high and our determination unwavering, we embark on the next phase with boundless enthusiasm, ready to empower and inspire the next generation of data scientists.