[UgaBYTES] Innovation, use of IT still low in East Africa schools

[Sandra Nassali]

Innovation and use of IT is still limited in universities in East Africa,
according to a survey commissioned and funded by the Rockefeller Foundation.

The survey focused on accessibility, usage and availability of information
communication technologies (ICT) services in 50 universities around the East
African region, including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.

Only 43 percent of the 50 campuses surveyed are taking part in global IT
competitions that would give them international recognition, according to
the poll. Such competitions involve students or lecturers developing
innovative software, and include events like the Google Cup, which takes
place annually in Paris.

"Innovative projects give the universities more credibility in the world,"
said Meoli Kashorada, a lead investigator for the survey and professor at
the United States International University (USIU) in Kenya. "This can be
achieved both by students and lecturers."

The report indicates that the ratio of students to computers, and the lack
of low-cost bandwidth, affects innovation and use of technology at the
universities.

Rwandan universities had the best ratio, at an average of seven computers
per 100 students. Elsewhere the survey found the ratio to be 6.8 per 100
students in Uganda; 5.2 per 100 students in Kenya; 2.7 per 100 students in
Tanzania; and 1.5 per 100 students in Burundi.

The goal for these universities is to have 10 computers per 100 students,
according to Kashorada.

Continue reading from
here<http://www.computerworldnigeria.com/articles/2009/10/27/innovation-use-it-still-low-east-africa-schools>

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Sandra Nassali
Community Facilitator
UgaBYTES Initiative (www.ugabytes.org)
Telecentre.org  (www.telecentrecommunity.ning.com)
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