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November 2022

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10 Things to learn from DSTI and UNICEF’s Hackathon

by dsti
November 29, 2022

Over the past decade, companies across industries have digitised their operations and processes. Even now, businesses are employing artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline workflows and supply chains. 

As a result, today’s job seekers require specialised skills to help them stand out from the crowd. While some colleges, universities and training providers have modified or expanded their curriculum to meet the growing demand for digital know-how, many educators struggle to provide the essential skills students need.

In an effort to prepare young tech enthusiasts for tomorrow’s fast-paced digital job market; DSTI and UNICEF have staged a Digital Public Goods Hackathon to bring together young people from different backgrounds to collaborate and build digital solutions in relation to improving online public services.

Here Are 10 Key Takeaways From The DPG Hackathon; 

  1. Increase awareness of the Fourth Industrial Revolution’s (4IR) career options for students.
  1. Contribute to human capital development by targeting 700+ students. 
  1. Improve critical thinking skills for young people venturing into the tech space.
  1. Fostering experiential learning among tech enthusiasts.
  1. Expanding the student’s worldview through extended discussions and Q&A sessions.
  1. Conducting Practical training for students with an introduction to 4AIR skills (data science, software development artificial intelligence, communications in tech, etc.) 
  1. Foster a stronger bond between student DPG champions and DSTI by increasing the awareness of open-sourced environments in Sierra Leone.
  1. Collect data that helps DSTI understand aspects of local culture that stereotype gender roles and prevent young girls from embarking on a career in STEM. 
  1. Encourage students to practicalize theories and engage in brainstorming sessions.  
  1. Help students develop a critical intellect for creative problem-solving.

Digital transformation is already gradually coming into all spheres of life. Every day we feel the importance of remotely accessible and community-friendly public services, which are critical to providing seamless, convenient and transparent services to people, especially for the most vulnerable groups of population.” –  David Manley, Lead Project Coordinator, DSTI.

What Are DPG’s?

Digital public goods are public goods in the form of open-source software, data sets, AI models, standards or content that are generally free and contribute to sustainable national and international digital development to tackle real-world challenges.

Learn More Here 

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Sierra Leone’s Team Lorem emerge as 1 of 20 country teams to win Generation Unlimited ImaGen Ventures Global Youth Challenge

by dsti
November 14, 2022

The Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Sierra Leone, and the  Ministry of Youth Affairs (MoYA) is pleased to officially celebrate the young innovators who represented Sierra Leone at the Generation Unlimited imaGen Ventures Global Youth Challenge. Team Lorem competed against 10,000 global submissions from 37 countries and won 15,000 USD in seed money and mentorship for their e-Learning intervention.

The team of three (L-R Abdul Rahim Jalloh, Emmanuel Kamanda & Lovetta Bangura) comprising of 3rd Year students from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, pitched the intervention of the “EASY S.T.E.M (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) SERVER’‘. 

The easy stem server is a database server which gives college students access to massive S.T.E.M learning content offline. The intervention received high commendation for its unique business model which laid premium on affordability, reliability, and personalised content curation as its enduring hallmarks.

The announcement which took place at the COP27 Climate Summit in Egypt on the 10th November 2022 was live-streamed at a well-attended event in Freetown. The star-studded audience featured Government Ministers, Students, Civil Society Activists, Private Sector Executives, Representatives from Non- Governmental Organisations,  Journalists and many more.

Speaking on this amazing feat, Mohamed Orman Bangura, Minister of Youth Affairs, commended the participants for making the nation proud on the world stage. He also pledged the government’s commitment to building youth capacity and cementing hard-won gains in youth affairs. He continued by saying that this win is a testament to the fact that the government’s youth-centred agenda is bearing fruits. 

“It is a joy to see young people embracing the wave of opportunity, growth, and progress that technology offers. Interventions of this nature set the tone for a more extensive and robust youth agenda. Congratulations to Team LOREM. We are proud of you.” – Dr. Sulaiman Braimoh, UNICEF Representative In Sierra Leone.

“DSTI is grateful for the continued collaboration with UNICEF and the Ministry of Youth Affairs. The Generation Unlimited project aligns with the Government’s flagship Human Capital Development agenda. The success of these young people shows our relenting commitment to transmit the message of hope and development through education for every child in Sierra Leone” – Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, Chief Innovation Officer,  DSTI & Minister of Basic Education.

After an exciting event, Team Captain, Abdul Rahim Jalloh, was overjoyed;

“I am thrilled to have been part of this transformative experience, especially at a time when Africa longs and thirsts for a generation of creatives. I am very proud of our team, and all we have been able to achieve thus far. Big Thanks To DSTI, UNICEF, GenU, and MoYA. We are very excited for our next chapter.” – said Abdul Rahim Jalloh, Team Lead, LOREM.

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Sierra Leone Launches Three (3)  Digital Learning Hubs (DLH) to Boost Digital Skills Acquisition.

by dsti
November 7, 2022

The Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Sierra Leone, has launched and officially announced the opening of  3 Digital Learning Hub locations; at Fourah Bay College (FBC), Freetown, Ernest Bai Koroma University, Makeni, and the Eastern Polytechnic in Kenema. The opening of the hubs comes as a sequel to the opening of the first hub at Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM)  in November 2021.  

The establishment of the hubs aims to address existing challenges of skills gap for young people within the workforce by providing more digital learning opportunities. It also aims to boost the acquisition and retention of in-demand skills for young people intending to enter the job market and cultivate improved learning outcomes for the current workforce.

The Learning Hub will provide a conducive workspace with free access to computers and reliable internet connection. The hub’s registered users will also have access to a wide range of digital learning content via the Learning Passport platform to help learners fully capitalise on available opportunities. 

The Hub will function on a day-to-day management procedure, and operations will be facilitated by Big Bang World, an organisation with experience in the establishment, management and operation of digital learning centers.

The roll-out of these hubs is set to optimise and redefine existing notions about digital education in Sierra Leone meaningfully. The course content of this initiative is tailored to reflect a viable alternative to traditional learning methods and aligns with the broader objective of advancing the Human Capital Development Agenda of the Government of Sierra Leone and its partners. 

The hub at FBC will initially have the eUPSHIFT course available, but will later feature content from HP Life and other organisations.

UNICEF Sierra Leone’s Innovation officer, Janice Williams highlighted the progress made on Digital Innovation.

“With the launch of these Digital Learning Hubs, we are making progress to deliver on UNICEF’s ReImagine Education agenda. Making digital platforms, like the Learning Passport, and digital content, such as the eUPSHIFT, available in Sierra Leone, we are taking a step towards making digital learning as one of the essential services for every child and young person.”

Echoing the promise of the hub in transforming skills acquisition and overall professional development of citizens is Vice Chancellor of USL, Professor Foday Sahr, 

“We salute the efforts of DSTI and Unicef for breathing life into the aspirations of increased workforce development designed to foster job market competitiveness and reduce skills deficit. We are thrilled to host the digital learning hub and we are certain that its use will be maximised to its fullest potential” – Professor Foday Sahr.

Want to know more about the Learning Hub or how to be a member? Go to [https://www.dsti.gov.sl/portfolio/dlh/) 

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