By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
The
Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), in collaboration with the
East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO) and the German
development agency GIZ, has launched a regional initiative to strengthen
artificial intelligence (AI) capacity across universities in East Africa.
The initiative, known as the Regional Network on
Artificial Intelligence in Education and Research, was unveiled during the 4th
East African Community (EAC) Regional Science, Technology and Innovation (STI)
Conference held at the Kigali Convention Centre on Monday, March 30, 2026. The
programme is being implemented under the EAC AI Alliance project.
As part of the launch, organisers
announced a Call for Nodes, inviting universities and research institutions
across the region to participate in the network. The move is aimed at fostering
collaboration, advancing AI research, and integrating AI into higher education
systems within EAC member states.
The Regional AI Network is expected
to serve as a platform for knowledge sharing, joint research, and capacity
building, positioning universities to play a more active role in the
development and application of AI technologies in the region.
Present at
the launch were EASTECO Executive Secretary, Dr. Sylvance Okoth, IUCEA Acting
Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris A. Rai, and David Roos, Head of Programme for
GIZ Tanzania and the East African Community, who underscored the importance of
coordinated regional efforts in advancing AI-driven innovation.
