[UgaBYTES] Mobile Phone Experts Hook Up with Makerere University

[Mwathi Francis]

UK mobile phone experts are visiting Uganda to work with staff and students
from Makere University, in order to improve mobile phone innovation in the
developing world.

Academics from Makerere University in Kampala have been working with
counterparts at Sheffield Hallam University to improve teaching techniques
over the design of mobile phones, ensuring that the next generation are
equipped to benefit from the technology.

After the Ugandan academics visited Sheffield in November, Professor Andy
Dearden, E-Reader in Social Action at Sheffield Hallam, and Professor Ann
Light have made the return trip to Kampala this week.

The project will see students at Makerere working with academics at
Sheffield Hallam to develop projects that will boost Ugandan knowledge of
the mobile phone industry, where subscriber numbers have rocketed to
10million, almost a third of the population.

Plans for a sustainable mobile phone innovation centre in Kampala where
graduates can work with local and international businesses are also in the
pipeline.

The 18-month partnership, supported by a British Council grant, Education
Partnerships in Africa, will improve teaching methods in mobile phone
innovation and entrepreneurial skills.

Dr Dearden, who has completed a similar project in rural India, said: "This
is the first project undertaken between Makerere and Sheffield Hallam, and
will see both of our reputations for excellence and innovation enhanced.

"Courses that focus on user-centred products and designs are sparse in most
of Africa despite the rapid rise in mobile phone technology and usership.

"This project aims to address this project in Uganda and to develop a
university to industry partnership model that can be used throughout
sub-Saharan Africa."


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Francis Mwathi
Support Community Facilitator
UgaBYTES Initiatives (www.ugabytes.org)
Telecentr.org (www.telecentrecommunity.ning.com)
Tel: +256 414 370163
Mob: +256 783 010269
Skype: francis.mwathi
E-Mail: mfrancis at ugabytes.org