12 teams made up of 60 university students across Kenya and Nigeria are participating in the second season of the Microsoft Africa Development Center, Game of Learners (GOL) virtual hackathon.
Over five weeks, the teams will take on the challenge of solving the education accessibility problems in Africa using technology. They will develop a solution, corresponding code and shippable product that will be judged by Microsoft and partners. Each team is led and captained by a Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador.
The students will get access to developer resources and learn new technologies to build their products. Assisted by 40 volunteers from Microsoft who will train, mentor and coach them.
Meet the 12 Microsoft Hackathon Teams
Blooming education in Africa – Team Bloom
Team Crowducate – Crowd for education
Education to all – Team Elimisha
Team Kaizen – Change for better education
Making quality education accessible to Africans – Team Blazers
Team Tulearn –
Empowering every student – Team Eagle
Team Elite – Next stop, mass education
Aim for the peak – Team Peak
Where Africans can all be sabis – Team Sabi
Phoenix –
Team Shauku –
Each member of the winning team will be awarded with one year Azure credits, one year LinkedIn Learning vouchers, digital certificate and digital badge for winning and one on one mentorship from preferred professionals.
Follow the journey of the teams on social media platforms using the hashtag #GameOfLearners.
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Check out other stories making the news in the technology ecosystem in Africa and the Middle East.
The world’s first graduate-level, research-based artificial intelligence university, the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), officially welcomes its first student cohort.
The first cohort is made up of 78 students from 29 countries across the globe. 13 PhD students and 65 MSc students, enrolled in MBZUAI’s Machine Learning and Computer Vision programs.
The artificial intelligence university is located in Abu Dhabi, is a graduate-level, research-based academic institution. Offering specialized degree programs for local and international students in the field of Artificial Intelligence.
The school aims to support the advancement of scientific research, development, transfer, and use of Artificial Intelligence through its programs.
Professor Dr. Eric Xing, President of MBZUAI, speaking during the welcome event of the students, notes the vision of the school is to nurture a new generation to unlock the potential of AI.
“AI is one of the most transformational technologies of the modern age, providing tremendous opportunities for humankind. The vision for MBZUAI is to nurture a new generation of leaders in science, engineering, policy and business with the necessary understanding to unlock the potential of AI through their academic research and industrial applications. We will deliver excellence in the field of AI education, research and development, through a world-class curriculum and collaborative projects with industry leaders. I welcome our first students, and look forward to working alongside them as we explore the future of AI.“
MBZUAI will focus its research and development on four pillars. Services and Quality of Life, to improve services offered by the public and private sectors. Industrial and Manufacturing Technologies, to enhance efficiencies and improve productivity. Future Game Changers, to nurture the growth of new and emerging high-value sectors. And Sustainability of Vital Resources and Environment, using AI to optimize the consumption of water and energy to protect the environment.
MBZUAI is already accepting applications for the Fall 2021 start in Computer Vision and Machine Learning MSc and PhD programs
Check out full admissions requirements and application details on the university website.
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Microsoft opens up its student scholarship program globally. Students in Nigeria can now apply for a Microsoft Tuition Scholarship.
The Microsoft scholarship program is an initiative to encourage students to pursue computer science and related STEM disciplines. Microsoft awards this to students who demonstrate passion for technology, academic excellence and leadership. The award was previously opened to university students in United States, Canada or Mexico.
The scholarship page says;
Welcome to the Microsoft Tuition Scholarship application page! Each year Microsoft awards Tuition Scholarships designed to empower the students that study Computer Science and related STEM(Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) disciplines. We look forward to reviewing your application.
Note: To be eligible for the scholarship, you must be enrolled full time in a bachelor’s degree program at a four year university at the time you submit the application.
If this is an opportunity you’ve been looking for, click to apply and submit your application.
Update: For New Africa to Redmond Software Engineering Applications that apply to 2018-2019 kindly check from the home page or click here for a list of related posts and choose your country or school.
Microsoft is on a quest to recruit students into engineering roles at its Redmond campus. The initiative dubbed Africa to Redmond is set to take place in selected Universities across the continent.
The initiative is part of an ongoing effort to recruit students from Africa into full-time engineering roles at Microsoft. This is part of Microsoft’s plan to showcase the talent pool in Africa.
For its first iteration, University Recruiting and Africans@Microsoft have selected five universities on the continent to recruit from. University of Nairobi(Kenya), University of Lagos(Nigeria), Ashesi University (Ghana), Makerere University (Uganda), and *University of Cape Town (South Africa).
The recruitment process is going to be in three phases. An online Coding challenge, Phone, and In-person Interview. Starting with an online coding challenge for final-year students. A panel of Judges will review the entries and selected applicants will be scheduled for a phone-in interview. Selected candidates from the second stage will have an in-person interview. A successful candidate from the three steps will join Microsoft for a full-time position. The candidate will be assigned to an engineering team once they accept the offer.
The first part of the selection, the online coding event is to show your coding skills. Students will show their engagement with coding by answering questions formulated by software engineers working at Microsoft.
Register at https://msft3c.com and use the Event code “vsSwVE” on the 29th July 2017 and finish the quiz between 9:30 am and 12 Midnight (the event code is subject to school, kindly check from image below)
The announcement to Africa to Redmond: Hack for Africa initiative says:
Do complex problems make you thrive? You are intellectually curious and love to innovate and collaborate.Join Microsoft to envision, create and build the solutions and tools of the future. Together, let’s empower billions.This is where grassroots innovation and large-scale engineering coexist. The environment can lead to some fascinating stories.
Functions Include: Development Engineering: Your work is core to what we do. Development massive, complex software systems that scale to billions.
Customer-facing technologist: Use your technical expertise in the planning, execution and communications of program activities.
Benefits and Perks:
– Building world-changing solutions -Network and collaborate with the brightest in the industry – Work-life balance and the flexibility to work remotely allows teams to be productive anywhere -Endless career paths filled with robust and diverse roles
For more information: careers.microsoft.com/benefits.
Learn more about life at Microsoft: blogs.microsoft.om/jobs
This is the first of its kind and will continue when successful. It’ll also be opened to more countries as it grows and continues. Is your university included? What do you think about this move from Microsoft.
*I’m still waiting for more details on the University of Cape Town event. – I’ll update as it comes in.
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Microsoft student partners are students in tertiary institutions with a passion for technology and want to share their deep knowledge with their fellow students, lead and mentor the next generation of software developers.
If you and want to represent Microsoft and are a tertiary student with a passion for technology and a desire to share with your peers, Microsoft is currently recruiting people for the Microsoft Student Partners Program in Ghana.
We are looking for tertiary students with a passion for technology and a desire to share that passion with other students on their campus. Students in universities or colleges in Ghana will have the great opportunity to become part of an amazing community.
As a Microsoft Student Partner here are some of the activities you’ll be involved in and stuffs you’ll gain as benefits.
You’ll be informed about the latest Microsoft technologies
You will acquire the tools and training to lead technology discussions on your campus
You will demonstrate the newest technologies, host tech events, and connect with like-minded students and faculty
You will lead the Microsoft Student Community at your campus
You will work closely with Microsoft and the other MSPs, and build and important network of contacts
You will get a proof of your MSP participation that can be used when you apply for work
You will receive tools, training, and networking opportunities so you can develop and refine the skills you need to jump-start your career
You will experience DREAMSPARK!
Applications are currently opened, so register now to be a member of Microsoft Student Partners Ghana in your institution.
Here are the requirements;
Be fully enrolled in an accredited tertiary institution
Have a passion for technology and the need to share that passion
