The quality of knowledge gained from The Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Africa Internet Technology Initiative

Mr Clement Nyandiere, Dean Faculty of IT giving a speech during the closing ceremony of the programme, looking-on are the MIT facilitators.

(MIT-AITI) programme is invaluable. This was the general observation from excited Strathmore University students who completed a course that combines lessons in Java programming, Internet technologies and Entrepreneurship offered under the MIT-AITI programme.

Students who have gone through this course say that the course is well run; the teaching is perfect; the rapport with the facilitators is fantastic and the overall quality of knowledge gained unmatched. The course provides a sort of fraternal bonding between the students and the lecturers that makes the course very enjoyable, thus promoting its interest and ultimate knowledge exchange.

The course which is delivered every year by MIT facilitators aims at empowering young African students with information technology (IT) and entrepreneurial skills to start up their own profitable ventures and in the long run improve African economies. The course is offered in a number of African countries including Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, and lately Zambia. Strathmore University is one of the locations at which the AITI course is undertaken in Kenya.

The (MIT-AITI) programme has been offered at Strathmore University since 2000. This year's programme began on 7th June 2005 and ended on 18th July 2005. It involved intensive lectures and lab sessions with the six(6) MIT facilitators, namely: Zahir Dossa, Bilha Ndirangu(Kenyan), Robert Leke, Marta Luczynska, Stephen Weis, and Curtis Venderpuije. Students who participate in the programme are drawn mainly from the foreign diploma courses in information technology(IMIS) and Strathmore's own Diploma in Business Information Technology (DBIT). To date over 250 students have been trained.