Dr Freddie Acosta, a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Information Technology together with a virtual team of analysts and programmers drawn from his students and friends  is developing a software solution called Loan Tracking and Management Software (LTAMS) for Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) and Micro Finance Institutions (MFI) in Kenya.

When interviewed about his motivation to embark on such a challenging project, he said SU is aspiring to be an Entrepreneurial University and the project is a response to the call the University has made to its lecturers to participate in applied research and thus help society.

A report prepared last year by the Ministry of Co-operatives and Marketing Development says that only 4% of the 11,000 registered co-operatives in Kenya have proper information systems.

"I interviewed students in Micro Finance Diploma at SU to find out more on this. The students said the available systems are not customized to their needs; they are very expensive; and they have no local support," Dr Acosta said.

"I then started thinking of ways to help Kenyan SACCOs and MFIs. That is how I came up the idea of developing the system," he added.

"I have asked my Systems Analysis and Design (SAD) students to gather all the user and system requirements of 20 different SACCOs and MFIs as a group project. This information should help us solve the customization issue," he said.

"We will then analyze and design their requirements and come up with a document listing all functionalities and reports required by these organizations. To solve the affordability issue, I have involved three seasoned programmers and analysts from the Philippines," he added.

"In my home country, the Philippines, the cost of living is low and salaries of programmers are much lower compared to Kenya. Some well wishers are helping me finance the system development. Managing a virtual team is an exciting challenge," Dr Acosta enthused.

"For support, I am thinking of encouraging my BBIT - 4 students to form a company to maintain the system. I will then ask one of the seasoned programmer friends to come to Kenya and train them," he said.

The software is 70% complete and is designed to do both Front Office and Back Office Activities.