Filed under ICT and Education, SAFIPA capacity building by Kerryn on 17 January, 2012 at 11:46 am
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The insights, steps and tips on how to run a successful code-sprint have been made available in the form of a user-friendly, Creative Commons licensed toolbox to assist other organisations and companies in using the methodology that was developed during the Meraka Institute’s very successful series of code sprints.
What is a code sprint?
A code-sprint is a dedicated training event aimed at empowering tertiary students with software development skills to improve their work-readiness and enhance their opportunities for uptake in the industry. A small group of students contribute to a real-world programming project under the guidance of a skilled technical leader. Through the close collaboration between the group and the technical leader, programming skills are shared and transferred, whilst key deliverables are achieved within the target project.
The Meraka Institute’s code sprints
The Meraka Institute (supported by SAFIPA donor funding) has successfully executed two phases of code-sprints, 2009 and 2011. 2009 consisted of two and 2011 having three code-sprints. The programme was a resounding success with 26 code-sprinters (tertiary students) participating over the two phases. The code-sprints programme has a well developed methodology to measure the growth of each student as well as other outcomes. The results extracted through the measurement methodology were extremely positive with clear indicators of the success of the code-sprint programme.
The first two code-sprint phases were hosted at the Meraka Institute. An opportunity exists to host the code-sprints at other development “hotspots” while following the code-sprints methodology. An example of a potentially viable hosting environment is the newly created “African Regional Mobile Application Laboratory” where the code-sprints targets are those of importance to the Laboratory at that time. Another potential code-sprint hosting environment can be a Living Lab, as it already contains the basic elements (various stakeholders such as students, communities and community innovators within a real life context containing multi-disciplinary challenges to be solved) required for the execution of a code-sprint. Tertiary education institutes are also well positioned to host code-sprints. With the addition of the code-sprints methodology, a technical solution can be developed, while significant knowledge and skills transfer are taking place.
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Filed under SAFIPA capacity building by Kerryn on 19 October, 2011 at 9:06 pm
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The kickoff plenary session of the SAFIPA 2011 Conference
Today was the first day of the SAFIPA 2011 two-day conference, which is the third, and last conference that will be hosted by SAFIPA as the programme draws to a close next month.
The first day has been filled with thought-provoking plenary sessions, interesting and inspiring parallel sessions and an info-gathering ‘market place’ where SAFIPA-supported projects could showcase their projects and activities in an up-close-and-personal environment.
The day kicked off with a plenary session that included a joint welcome from Mr Isaac Maredi, Director: Information and Communication Technology within the Department of Science and Technology and Dr Jyrki Pulkkinen, Senior Advisor, Information Society & Science Technology and Innovation for Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The welcome was followed by a keynote address by Dr Derek Keats, of dkeats Innovation, and former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Knowledge Information Management at University of Witwatersrand. His address entitled “Emerging Future Trends in Information and Communications Technologies” provided a perfect backdrop to the rest of the day consisting, as it did, of asking provoking questions and highlighting themes around the definition, measurement and nurturing of innovation and innovators.
The two parallel sessions today included “Technology Commercialisation” during which time projects WhereIsMyTransport, JamiiX and the Meraka Tech Transfer projects outlined their contexts, activities, challenges and strengths. The second session was on “Improving Service Delivery for Rural Development” at which time ESTIMA Teleweaver, Municipality in a Box, and Naledi3d shared how local communities can be empowered through the innovative use of ICTs.
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Filed under SAFIPA capacity building by Kerryn on 12 October, 2011 at 1:38 pm
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As the SAFIPA programme draws to a close in November 2011, the SAFIPA Project Management office will be hosting the SAFIPA Showcase and Exhibition on 19 and 20 October at the CSIR International Convention Centre.
SAFIPA-supported projects at a previous conference. From the top: Marlon Parker (JamiiX/RLabs), Abdul hadi fakier (Chisimba), and Dr Naledi Pandor visiting the Siyakhula Living Labs stand.
The SAFIPA closing conference – at which over 250 stakeholders are expected to converge – promises to be a diverse and rich experience. The conference will provide SAFIPA partners and related stakeholders with the opportunity to interact with project leaders at the SAFIPA Project Exhibition and Showcase, provide a platform to network and engage with SAFIPA further. The exciting two full day programme includes:
- Four thematic sessions on SAFIPA projects;
- Four panel discussions on ICT for Development;
- Interactive Demo sessions of SAFIPA supported technical innovations;
- Launch of the SAFIPA case study publication and networking cocktail party; and
- 20 exhibits of SAFIPA projects and partner activities.
The SAFIPA 2011 conference marks the end of what has been a highly successful initiative between South African and Finnish partners. The initiative has been jointly funded by the Department of Science and Technology South Africa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Finland, and hosted by the CSIR Meraka Institute.
Highlights of SAFIPA
Thiru Naidoo Swettenham, the SAFIPA National Programme Coordinator, who has been working tirelessly in putting together the conference and the final SAFIPA publication which will be launched on 19 October – shares some impressive background statistics to the SAFIPA initiative:
SAFIPA has supported 25 ICT projects at different stages of the Innovation Value Chain. Special emphasis was given to the creation of an environment which enhances the development and deployment of ICT applications for under-serviced communities. The programme has produced 15 technical innovations that are applicable for developing communities and provide opportunities for commercialisation.
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Filed under SAFIPA capacity building by Kerryn on 18 July, 2011 at 10:07 am
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Brainstorming during the Leading Expert Organisations workshop.
The component of institutional capacity development has included such activities as value-added instruction, the training of trainers, activities with multiplier effects, and networking opportunities. The SAFIPA team has approached the goal of capacity building with both creativity and an aptitude for understanding what makes skills-transfer successful.
As such, over the duration of the SAFIPA programme, a number of exciting initiatives and activities have been made available to both project partners and stakeholders concerned with developing and implementing innovative ICT solutions for local communities. These activities have ranged from a personal mentorship engagement programme, to knowledge exchange trips to Finland for a group of South Africans, with the intention of enabling the sharing and transfer of knowledge; to workshops with Finnish knowledge experts, and train-the-trainer sessions utilising inventive methodologies designed to unlock people and organisational potential.
Mentorship engagement nurtures innovative solutions for a local ICT incubator
During 2009, Leonie Greyling, who at the time was the newly appointed CEO to Softstart BTI, took part in a SAFIPA mentoring engagement programme. This was an intensive, one-on-one programme with SAFIPA’s Kristiina Lähde that lasted for a full year. Leonie says, “The relationship with Kristiina Lähde was established with the intention of her providing me with support in my new role as CEO of the Incubator.” Softstart BTI is an ICT business and technology incubator that supports early-stage businesses, focussing in particular on the incubation of young IT graduates, professionals and previously disadvantaged groups. The focus is on encouraging entrepreneurship amongst these groups. As a function of her new appointment, Leonie was required to look at the issues of sustainability and relevance for the incubator. Meeting every month to six-weeks for a two-hour discussion session, Kristiina guided Leonie through an analysis of these issues, by highlighting Finnish incubators with similar objectives, and exploring the various sustainability measures and best-practices that these entities employ.
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Filed under SAFIPA capacity building by Kerryn on 18 July, 2011 at 9:12 am
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The square outside Helsinki central railway station
The final two students to take part in the Knowledge Exchange Finland (KEF) programme, have returned to South Africa. Anton Delen and Nobert Jere have been the last two post-graduate students involved in this enriching and exciting journey, which has seen a total of seven students embark on the learning adventure of a lifetime.
Throughout this Love from Finland series, it has been wonderful to gain insight into what the initiative has meant for students, in terms of what they have learned, and how this exchange has changed their world-view. For the last time, we caught up with the final two students, to find out what kind of impact this knowledge exchange programme has had on their future studies and their personal outlook.
Anton Delen is a student at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) who has recently submitted his Masters of Technology (MTech) thesis. Anton’s focus is on semantic meta-data repositories and architectures in healthcare, where he developed an ontology for home-based healthcare by also considering healthcare standards
Anton Delen enjoying the snow
Anton, when did you leave for Finland and when did you return to South Africa?
Prior to taking up the Knowledge Exchange in Finland, I was in Delft at The Hague University of Applied Sciences for a week, where I was attending to Industrial Design and IT students whom I supervise. I arrived in Finland on the 27th of March and returned to South Africa on the 7th of May.
The focus of your Masters’ research was to look at service design challenges in home-based healthcare, based within the Socio-Tech project. Do you believe that this KEF programme will help further inform your research project?
Yes, the knowledge exchange has given me confidence in this new field of Service Design, which is currently still unheard of in South Africa. The most encouraging thing about Service Design is that MBA students worldwide are paying it lots of attention. I think it is extremely encouraging for economists and business students to be sold into design process and practice. In short, Service Design is central to the creation of a service economy. The confidence I gained while speaking to fellow students and experts on the subject has allowed me to apply my subject to a host of projects in which our Innovation Hub is involved. We hope to be able to demonstrate the usefulness of this to industry stakeholders with our next few project deliverables.
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Filed under SAFIPA capacity building by Kerryn on 11 April, 2011 at 8:57 pm
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A building showing the temperature as -16 degrees in Kuopio, Finland. Image by Cecil van der Watt.
Cecil van der Watt is the fifth student to take part in the Knowledge Exchange Finland (KEF) initiative. It has been a whirlwind first quarter of 2011 so far for Cecil, having started his Finnish exchange at the beginning of the year at the University of Eastern Finland, in Kuopio where he continued working on his thesis. Cecil, who is a researcher in Informatics, is currently completing his Masters of Technology (MTech) at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). His field of research is Service Design Challenges in Home Based Health Care in the Western Cape: A Case Study.
After what will probably be looked back upon as the trip of a lifetime, Cecil has crammed learning, experience and appreciation into three very short months. Having taken up the exchange programme in January 2011, his three-month stint has now come to an end. Just before his return to South Africa, we caught up with Cecil via email to find out just what this experience has meant for him.
Cecil, please could you tell us a bit about your area of study, and what you will be doing academically upon your return to South Africa.
My thesis looks at the design consideration needed for a semantic metadata repository in home-based healthcare within the South African context. My research follows a design science research approach and looks at the design and considerations that went into creating the first iteration of the metadata repository.
The metadata repository itself is simply a tool for capturing data elements and the interpretation of data elements used in home-based healthcare. Most of these data elements are captured on paper forms and the definition and usage of these data elements are usually not documented. The repository attempts to digitise and capture these data elements and their interpretations for the different home care initiatives that we are working with.
The metadata repository is part of a larger project undertaken at CPUT that attempts to aid communities in need. The project is currently looking at home-based healthcare and a number of sub-projects are being undertaken such as mobile devices for helping with data capturing and community health awareness.
Upon returning to South Africa I will complete the last part of the current Masters studies and then continue with my Doctorate. The topic for my Doctorate is still not finalized yet but will ideally be based on some of the topics I’ve been exposed to during my studies in Finland.
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Filed under SAFIPA capacity building by Kerryn on 3 April, 2011 at 8:58 pm
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A full house for Module 4 of the ICT and Mobile Business Building programme
SAFIPA’s Thiru Swettenham reports that whilst most of SAFIPA’s funding has been allocated to supporting projects which are developing innovative end user applications, one of the key focuses of the SAFIPA programme is to build a facilitating environment for ICT4D. This is done by supporting human capacity building and network creation.
In particular, SAFIPA seeks to support emerging and existing entrepreneurs through the ICT and Mobile Business Building programme. If numbers are anything to go by, the programme is clearly a success with over 250 participants having taken part in the programme over four of the modules that have been presented in the past five months. The programme, which consists of a total of five modules, has included participants from research institutions, public and private enterprises, NGOs and regional government departments. Dr Dlodlo of the CSIR, who attended the workshop, coined a phrase that aptly described the programme as ‘mobile-made-easy’.
The fourth module on Mobile Platforms was hosted in early March, and included a wide range of topics, such as: aspects of the mobile user interface, service delivery channels, value propositions for using mobile, highlighting differences between low-end and smart devices and the type of channels available, programming with JAVA, network service provider spectrum, and Wireless Application Service Providers.
The technical sessions on the selection of mobile platforms stressed the need for appropriate market scanning, critically segmenting one’s market and ensuring the correct choice of device before embarking on mobile application development. Five case studies were presented, ranging from complete business solutions for small businesses; the use of mobile for HIV awareness amongst youth; different smart devices and their advantages or disadvantages for applications; the use of cloud computing and its advantages for the emerging mobile developer; and the use of crowd-sourcing for collaborative social innovation via a web based gaming and networking platform. With such an array of material, it is unsurprising that participants gained immense value from the workshop.
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This is the final edition of the SAFIPA newsletter. The month of November 2011, marks the conclusion of this dynamic initiative.
