Microsoft has been involved in eLearning and ICT for development in Africa in a variety of ways for many years, be it in ‘Training the trainer’ workshops for teachers, in eGovernment initiatives or in the development of new technologies. Here, Mark Matunga, Education Manager for Microsoft East & Southern Africa (ESA) speaks about the significant progress that has been made in Africa, persisting barriers […]
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How high-speed Internet is boosting economic growth in Africa
In the Ghanaian capital Accra, one government minister takes questions from citizens via Facebook. One journalist in Kenya uses his smart phone to e-mail breaking news instantly from a corporate press conference; his announcements affect share prices on the Nairobi Stock Exchange. Technology is rapidly changing Africa, and at the forefront of this change is rising access to broadband Internet. Broadband is even more […]
Promoting farming to young people in Tanzania – a most welcome idea
It is an undeniable fact that agriculture is the mainstay of Tanzania’s economy, employing about 85 percent of the labour force. Tanzania still relies on small-scale subsistence agriculture based on traditional practices, failing to take full advantage of commercial initiatives. Poverty in rural areas is forcing thousands of young people to leave their homes for urban areas. The forthcoming eLearning Africa […]
‘Jenerali on Thursday’ – political commentator and ex-TV host at eLearning Africa
One of the liveliest speakers in the plenary session at this year’s eLearning Africa is likely to be Mr Jenerali Ulimwengu. Well known in Tanzania and throughout East Africa as the host of a popular television talk show ‘Jenerali on Monday,’ Mr Ulimwengu is also a media mogul and the Chairman of Raia Mwema, a political newspaper.
Wazup? How digital technologies are transforming the lives of young Africans
How do young Africans use social networks, chat forums and mobile phones? eLearning Africa 2011 will bring together a group of young African people, including twenty Tanzanians, to discuss the impact of ICTs on their lives. The session will be run entirely by young African people, while the ‘clueless’ older generation – those over 24 – will have observer status.
ICT hero from Kilimanjaro foothills wins conference scholarship
Ombeni Msuya, who has been working as the sole ICT technician at Tanzania’s National Institute of Transport (NIT), has won an eLearning Africa scholarship to this year’s eLA conference in Tanzania. EAST, the eLearning Africa Scholarship Trust, heard how a 22 year old IT expert born in a small village on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro had worked singlehanded at the country’s biggest […]
ECOWAS to sponsor eLearning Africa participation
One of the most significant challenges facing education in West Africa is the region’s young, dynamic and fast growing population: Almost 70 percent of the estimated 230 million people in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are under the age of 35. The region is also saddled with a large proportion of disadvantaged or marginalised people in remote and/or deprived communities, including […]
Bridging the technology gap with Free and Open Source Software
Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) is taking off in East Africa, according to Emanuel Feruzi, Managing Director of the Tanzania-based IT company Tri Labs. ‘Techies’, students and also businesses are beginning to show an interest in these solutions. FOSS allows users to adapt the software’s source code to meet specific needs – without the licence costs which come […]
Facebook and education in Africa – should we be merging boundaries?
One of the hot topics at eLearning Africa this year is certain to be the educational implications of the rise of social media. There will undoubtedly be a great deal of ideas, innovation and speculation regarding the future of the sector. If you want to combine this energy with some substantive analysis regarding the social realities of eLearning across Africa, then you should […]
Help us grow our eLearning Africa community
This year, for the first time at eLearning Africa (eLA), our Programme Team will be hosting a session entitled “My eLA”. We have had many discussions on the purpose and nature of eLearning Africa. So far, our conversations have led us to conclude that eLA has multiple personalities. We believe that her many personalities should be embraced and celebrated. We call on you to […]