Filed under Community news by Kerryn on 4 April, 2012 at 4:31 pm
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This workshop is part of the Business Building Workshop Series 2012 which are based on the SAFIPA ICT and Mobile Business Building Programme originally compiled by RIIS for ICT and mobile entrepreneurs, small business owners/managers and IT departments across all sectors. The ‘Business Building Workshop Series 2012′′ is designed for all, and is open to other sectors beyond the ICT and Mobile Industries.
The two-day workshop will be held on Wednesday, 11 April to Thursday, 12 April 2012 from 8:00 to 16:30. The cost is R 1,950.00 per person (incl. VAT). SAINe members and groups of 5 and more are able to receive a 10% discount. There is also the opportunity to Refer-a-friend and get a R500.00 discount! The workshop venue has been sponsored by the Bandwidth Barn and will be held at the following address: 5th Floor, 125 Buitengracht Centre, Buitengracht Street, Cape Town.
Click here to register now!
Is this workshop for you? The answer is ‘yes’ if you are an entrepreneur, small business owner, the CEO or employee of an ICT and mobile SMME, a new product developer, IT developer or project manager. In fact, anyone who would like to start their own ICT and mobile business is encouraged to attend. And if you or your company is not in the ICT and mobile industries, yet would like to learn more about the benefits of using new technologies in your business, the Business Building Workshop Series is also for you.
The programme includes topics ranging from concept stage, the nuts and bolts of the ICT and mobile business, through to the big-picture considerations and context.
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Filed under ICT and Education, Uncategorized by Kerryn on 11 April, 2011 at 5:50 pm
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A Dinaledi learner engages with MoMaths
For decades, Maths teachers throughout the world have been grappling with the problem of how to make the subject of Mathematics an interesting and relevant topic for kids. Now, Nokia’s mobile maths project appears to have found a winning solution. The project, which is now in its third year of existence, has gathered evidence that overwhelmingly points to successful uptake and ownership by local learners who indicate a newly acquired enthusiasm and enjoyment of Maths. These results are astounding researchers involved in the evaluation of the project, one of whom claims that in twenty years of research into how to harness technology for education and knowledge transfer, this level of positive learner response has never been experienced.
Talking to Riitta Vanska, the project lead of MoMaths, enthusiasm for the project is certainly contagious. Riitta, who is based in Finland and works as the Senior Manager of Mobile Learning Solutions within the Sustainability Operations of Nokia’s Corporate Social Responsibility arm, has almost single-handedly steered the project. Her passion, drive and commitment are boundless. Riitta stresses that this project is not a ‘content push’ but rather aims to build learners’ confidence in order for them to harness their own capabilities and, in a way, manage their own learning destinies.
Yet how has MoMaths achieved this? The answer is beguilingly simple: MoMaths awakens the competitive spirit. Learners are encouraged to compete – but here is the interesting catch – with themselves. This ‘solution’ came largely through having to think out-of-the-box: without being able to use smart phones and the more sophisticated mobile applications, due to the pilot learners using low-end phones, the team had to think about what would be at the core of getting children excited about learning. They stripped it back to a sense of personal fulfillment and achievement. Thus, learners are encouraged to better their scores on quizzes, practice exercises and tests. Of course, there is also competition amongst their peers; this is only natural, but the self-improvement and self-actualisation that the project awakens in each learner is a personal achievement.
Harnessing learner enthusiasm via MXiT
Another plus to MoMaths is that it happens where the learners are to be found, namely on the popular mobile chat channel called MXiT. This is not unique: a number of other learning initiatives use MXiT to connect with learners, recognising that this popular mobile platform is where learners spend a great deal of their free time.
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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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Filed under SAFIPA capacity building by Thiru Swettenham on 26 January, 2011 at 4:40 pm
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Group photo of attendees of the ICT and Mobile Business Building programme
In November 2010, SAFIPA embarked on an initiative co-hosted by the Research Institute for Innovation and Sustainability (RIIS) to present an ICT capacity building programme. This programme was specifically designed after soliciting feedback from SAFIPA project leaders and to fulfill SAFIPA’s mandate to develop institutional capacity for existing and emerging ICT entrepreneurs. The ICT and Mobile Business Building Programme aims to assist existing and emerging entrepreneurs with insight, skills and training opportunities so that they are more equipped with the essentials of engaging in successful entrepreneurial activities. The programme consists of five separate modules presented over a five to six month period, thereby providing an opportunity for participants to embed and implement their learning after their training sessions. The modules consist of both business (entrepreneurship) and technology skills development, in addition to two sessions focussing exclusively on the mobile sector.
Every effort has been made by the SAFIPA and RIIS to ensure that the content provided at these training sessions are relevant to emerging entrepreneurs in the developing country context and that there are local examples, resources and networks that the participants can engage with. The first session on Technology Entrepreneurship in November and the second on Funding Opportunities in December were well attended with a total of 110 participants. We have also observed a core group of participants who are developing strong linkages, networks and are discussing areas of collaboration thus also fulfilling the third component of SAFIPA’s strategy in developing an extensive ICT institutional network. (more…)
Filed under Inclusion, Accessibility and Community Connectivity by Kerryn on 31 July, 2010 at 12:48 pm
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The 1ST-Africa Conference and Exhibition brought together over 300 people from around the world to discuss how the applied research of information and communication technologies can aid Africa’s development.
The conference was held at the Durban International Convention Centre from 19 to 20 May and provided three information-rich days consisting of keynote addresses, workshops, white paper presentations and case studies. An exhibition area enabled local projects to showcase and share their initiatives. Added to the mix were ample networking opportunities where participants could meet, discuss and build relationships with like-minded stakeholders involved in ICT projects within the education, health, technology and content industries, as well as donor agencies and public sector representatives.
Leading academics and dignatories from around the world were in attendance at the conference, and provided inspiration and debate in the form of keynote addresses. Speakers included the honourable Naledi Pandor who is South Africa’s Minister of Science and Technology, Professor John Wood, Chair of the European Research Area Board for the United Kingdom and Ilari Lindy, who is Finland’s Advisor of the Information Society for Development of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. (more…)
This is the final edition of the SAFIPA newsletter. The month of November 2011, marks the conclusion of this dynamic initiative.
