Strengthening engineering ecosystems in sub-Saharan Africa
Programs and partnerships
Lead institution(s)
Summary
This project responds to the significant gaps that exist in advanced training and research in applied science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in sub-Saharan Africa.Read more
This project responds to the significant gaps that exist in advanced training and research in applied science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in sub-Saharan Africa. Skills in these fields are often either lacking or students are not well equipped for the national or regional job market.
Five pilot projects across sub-Saharan Africa, selected through an open competition and an independent review panel, will explore ways in which engineering research and education in Africa can be strengthened. The five projects touch on various aspects related to how STEM training and research can more effectively achieve social and economic impact throughout the region. These projects are:
• Product design in the engineering curriculum (Nigeria)
• Building capacity in water engineering in East Africa to support the Sustainable Development Goals (Tanzania)
• Supporting leading innovations in water resources management (Ghana)
• University co-op programs in East Africa (Tanzania)
• Supporting STEM research cultures in Africa: Building institutional capacity for computing research (Kenya)
Project leaders will contribute to regional and global understanding by studying their national or sub-regional engineering “ecosystem” and by reflecting on their projects. They will collectively build a new field of expertise on engineering on the continent, namely through the lens of engineering education and innovation systems. By sharing best practices and lessons learned, they will explore common issues such as the lack of women in engineering, barriers to university-industry partnerships, and challenges in career pathways for engineers.