Google is working with the MIT Africa Information Technology Initiative (AITI), an organization that sends MIT students to Kenya to teach a mobile programming course to university students during the (northern) summer. Over the past several months, Google has supported AITI to expand their existing program. And starting this week, AITI will deliver an intensive six-week course at Strathmore University in Nairobi, Kenya. Students from Strathmore University, University of Nairobi, and Jomo Kenyatta University will attend this program to learn how to develop mobile applications. Instructors from these universities have also been invited to participate as liaisons to observe the course and assist students.
Google supports the AITI program in a variety of ways. During the course, Google engineers will mentor students remotely through an online social network. Additionally, Google will contribute Android curriculum materials. We will also provide support for faculty who wish to teach course modules during the following year.
The AITI program seeks to build both technical and entrepreneurial skills. This summer's course topics will include Java, mobile technologies, J2ME, SMS, server-side technologies, and emergent mobile technologies. In addition to the technical curriculum, the course seeks to build entrepreneurial skills by incorporating guest lecturers with expertise in the Kenyan technology market, mobile challenges, a group mobile application project, and a business plan competition.
The program will also have a vibrant web community for our students and instructors. This community will allow the participants to post or answer questions, evaluate the class, search and post job openings, search for course materials, and so on. This online community will help to make this program sustainable beyond the six-week summer session.
http://google-africa.blogspot.com/2009/06/university-outreach-in-kenya.html
