News

Ten University of Botswana students will be among 18 university students that will represent Botswana at the UNESCO-India-Africa Hackathon scheduled for Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India from November 22nd to 25th, 2022. 

The main objectives of the hackathon include exploring new technologies/skills, creating potential, driving business innovation, sourcing incubation programs, creating potential startups, branding, creating solutions for social causes and analyzing data to make predictions.

Participants will be given problem statements picked from emerging themes of social relevance and they will build feasible digital/physical prototypes as solution to those problem statements. The hackathon will help participants implement their academic skills in practical problem solving with more confidence, motivation and clearer concepts along with development of better analytical skills. It will also help in developing their cognitive skills, emotional stability, creativity and design thinking.

The 10 are Tebogo Ketshabile Mofenyi, Moffat Motlhanka, Junior Olebile Moremong, Benjamin Gaolatlhe Kgosiesele, Rapelang Mathibe, Tlatso Tsebe, Gorata Boago Seropola, Lebogang keiponye Boago Masidila and Emma Phenyo Ramajalwa. The other eight students are from Botswana International University of Science and Technology (Five) and Botho University (three). UB staff Dr. Edwin Thuma will serve as team captain, with Drs. Taye Demissie, Onalenna Makhura, and Tshiamo Motshegwa serving as mentors.                                                                    

UNESCO-India-Africa hackathon will offer unique opportunities to all African Countries and India to forward their economic development through collaboration in education, science and technology. Also, to exchange thoughtful leadership, collaboration on projects involving varied skilled individuals in order to develop cross country bonds and learn from each other.

The expected outcomes of participating at the hackathon are new ideas and innovative concepts to solve problems faced by humanity. An opportunity to collaborate with participants across the globe hence working on latest technologies resulting in immense technical growth and lastly economic development among India and African countries.

Participating countries will not be competing against each other but will collaborate in finding solutions to their problem statements. Mentoring and Evaluation by the jury panel will consist of industry experts/faculty related to the problem statements.