International education providers across the UK and Africa are working together to build skills in machine learning and data science.
The Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy (DARA) project, led by the University of Leeds, has funded coaching for a group of trainers to organise a hackathon programme and events involving 14 institutions.
Hackathons are events where participants collaborate and focus on an engineering or technology project over a set period of time.
Eslam Hussein, the current lead for Hack4dev, is about to start his PhD at Leeds and is supported by DARA. His PhD will focus on exploring a framework for accelerating research in education, which will investigate if methods like hackathons are useful in this regard.
Eslam’s work focuses on using hackathons as a tool to accelerate global development. He said: “Hackathons are a way to advance research in both natural and social sciences while also enabling rapid skills development.
“I am very grateful for this opportunity, as it allows me to fulfil one of my life’s main objectives – using knowledge and science for the benefit of humanity. Seeing this work create worldwide impact is something I never imagined possible through Hack4dev.”
Originally from Egypt, Eslam has spent the past 11 years in South Africa. He graduated from the University of the Western Cape with an MSc in Machine Learning and Data Science in 2022.
Hack4dev has brought together partners across the globe to work on hackathons with support from DARA and this month hack4dev, took place at Kenyatta University in Kenya. Hackathons build capacity in machine learning and data science to improve outcomes for analysing data.
The whole experience reminded me how much I love data science, and I can’t wait to apply what I’ve learned to my future projects.
The DARA project has trained more than 300 students and post-graduates in eight countries since its launch eight years ago. The project, focused on training in computing, radio technology and data analysis, is now in phase three and is currently supporting nine hackathons.
Participants of the hackathons will tackle a real-world research problem: developing an efficient machine learning pipeline for CubeSats, small satellites used for space research.
Valarie Chebet who is currently pursuing a BSc in Data Science and Analytics at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), said: “Being grouped with undergraduates, Masters students and PhD candidates created such a dynamic mix of perspectives. Collaborating with them was inspiring, we shared ideas, debated approaches and worked tirelessly to refine our model for satellite image classification.”
The hackathon challenge saw participants optimise data for transmission by designing machine learning models that ensure high accuracy with minimal resource usage – crucial for missions constrained by limited use of computers and communication capabilities.
The research outcomes were reached within three days, as they are designed to engage participants to work quickly in order to solve the objective and the research problem.
Valarie added: “Presenting our work on the final day was the highlight of the experience. The whole experience reminded me how much I love data science, and I can’t wait to apply what I’ve learned to my future projects.”
The Hack4dev project has brought together different networks across the globe enabling participants to learn new skills and has equipped aspiring trainers with the skills to conduct their own hackathons within their institutions and communities.
Eslam said: “It has been fantastic to work on an international project, working with teams across different countries and managing the challenges that this brings.
“I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this project, especially the late Professor Carolina Odman, founder of Hack4dev, whose vision continues to inspire us.”
Eslam’s PhD is part-funded by the University of Leeds’ International Strategy Fund, which creates a feedback loop between programmes like DARA and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.
Eslam’s academic investigation will help the development of programmes like DARA and inform a systematic approach to global challenges in future programmes at the University of Leeds.
Further Information
For more information, please contact Rebecca Hurrey on r.hurrey@leeds.ac.uk in the University of Leeds Press Office.
Picture credit: Hack4dev.