2023 News

2023

2022 2024

Dec 20

Pursuing and imparting knowledge

Gifty Buah (MS ECE ’18) indulges her curiosity with roles as a lecturer, Ph.D. student, and interviewer.

Dec 14

Getting to know the city

MSIT student Rachel Ayateke is in Pittsburgh this semester as part of CMU-Africa’s student exchange program.

Dec 08

Conrad Tucker named new director of CMU-Africa Opens in new window

Conrad Tucker has been named the next director of Carnegie Mellon University Africa. In his new role, Tucker will also serve as the College of Engineering’s Associate Dean for International Programs in Africa.

Nov 28

A passion for power systems

Electrical and computer engineering master’s student Marshal Ruzvidzo is in Pittsburgh this semester as part of CMU-Africa’s student exchange program.

Nov 21

Understanding the security of mobile apps in Africa

Researchers from CyLab-Africa and the Upanzi Network recently partnered with the mobile security provider Approov to explore the security of common financial services apps used across Africa.

Nov 16

Faculty Enrichment Program provides opportunities to learn

As part of the African Engineering and Technology Network, Carnegie Mellon University Africa, in collaboration with the University of the Witwatersrand, held its annual Faculty Enrichment Program in October.

Nov 14

CMU's Flying Club visits Rwanda

CMU students from the Flying Club packed up the flight simulator and took off for a five-day visit to CMU-Africa where they were greeted with an enthusiasm well beyond what they imagined.

Nov 09

A practical convergence of AI and machine learning

Recently, students at CMU-Africa embarked on an exciting class project to explore the intricate dimensions of humanoid robots.

Nov 02

Sildio Mbonyumuhire addresses CMU-Africa students

Technology for impact: empowering agriculture through digital innovation

Through the robust relationship with CMU-Africa Career Services, TechnoServe Labs has provided seven internship opportunities, engaged in two practicum projects, and a permanent job position.

Oct 25

Stakeholder collaboration in Rwanda’s digital transformation

CyLab-Africa and the Upanzi Network, AfricaNenda, and Rwanda Information Society Authority jointly hosted a digital public infrastructure and digital public goods stakeholder engagement workshop. This workshop served as a catalyst for collaborative efforts aimed at advancing Rwanda’s digital transformation.

Oct 18

Afretec research planning grant brings assistive technologies to those in need

In 2022, the African Engineering and Technology Network awarded one of its first planning grants to a team of researchers whose goal is to make assistive technologies accessible in second and third-world countries.

Oct 11

How a CMU-Africa student combines cybersecurity, leadership, and community

With support from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Ines Ituze Agasaro (MSIT ’24) uses leadership skills to impact the cybersecurity field and her community.

See More Stories

Oct 02

Pan-African network celebrates collaboration at second annual conference

Higher education leaders from across the continent recently convened at the University of Nairobi for the 2023 Afretec Conference.

Sep 13

Op-Ed: Building digital infrastructure for Africa, by Africa

Co-director of the Upanzi Open Digital Technologies Network and CyLab-Africa shares how universities on the continent are well positioned to solve several key challenges on the path to a digital future.

Related Article Opens in new window

Aug 29

2023 Moonshot: Communication and Compute for All Opens in new window

The College of Engineering's 2023 Moonshot aims to provide internet connection to underprivileged communities around the world, allowing affordable communication and computer infrastructure to be accessible to all.

Aug 23

Infographic of top 5 unique cybersecurity challenges in Africa

Five unique cybersecurity challenges in Africa

CMU-Africa’s Assane Gueye has identified five cybersecurity challenges that Africa faces on the path to a digital future.

Explore research from CyLab-Africa and the Upanzi Network

Get involved by partnering with CyLab-Africa

Aug 16

Connecting rural African communities one bus at a time

Ndashimye is part of a team of researchers from the Upanzi Network Lab hoping to bridge this digital divide between urban and rural communities.

Aug 08

Class of 2025 - Welcome Tartans!

CMU-Africa welcomes 12th cohort of Africa's Future Tech Leaders, Innovators, and Entrepreneurs.

Aug 01

Tucker announced as Interim Director of CMU-Africa

As of August 1, Conrad Tucker will serve as the Interim Director of CMU-Africa and Interim Associate Dean for International Programs in Africa.

Jul 27

Serving the student body and beyond

Seth Abayo (MSIT ’23) is using the support he has received from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program to bridge his academic interests and serve his community in impactful ways.

Jul 20

Improving energy access in Africa

Faith Bagire (MS ECE '21) is improving energy access in Africa, thanks to his academic journey at Carnegie Mellon University Africa.

Jul 11

picoCTF-Africa sees significant growth in competition’s second year

In just its second year, the cybersecurity hacking competition saw over 1250 students, as the number of female participants doubled, and the number of high school participants increased by more than 365 percent. Additionally, four teams finished in the top 50 on picoCTF’s global leaderboard, demonstrating the initiative’s immediate impact.

Jul 06

Exchanging campuses, making global connections Opens in new window

Through the Student Exchange Program, engineering students have the opportunity to experience what it is like to be enrolled at another CMU location.

Watch the Video Opens in new window

Jun 28

Pursuing AI dreams

Medhn pursued her lifelong interests in math and physics as part of the first cohort in the new Master of Science in Engineering Artificial Intelligence program.

Jun 21

Ansys expands presence to Africa with new office in Rwanda Opens in new window

Ansys, the global leader and innovator of engineering simulation software, announced on June 22 that it will be establishing its first physical presence in Africa with a new office in Kigali, Rwanda.

Jun 13

CMU-Africa celebrates 10th graduation

CMU-Africa recently celebrated its 10th graduation ceremony, a significant milestone for the institution. The event, held on May 26th, honored the achievements of the Class of 2023, which included 158 graduates.

Jun 05

Julia Royall as a guest lecturer at CMU-Africa

A producer at heart Opens in new window

Alumna Julia Royall (DC ’73) has spent her life modeling a collegial approach through her work. Now, she is encouraging the next generation of interdisciplinary thinkers at CMU-Africa to do the same.

May 30

Improving traffic safety with intelligent transportation systems

Researchers at CMU-Africa and CMU-Pittsburgh are working to improve traffic safety in Africa through the use of intelligent transportation systems.

May 24

A female CMU-Africa student laughing at graduation

CMU-Africa to celebrate 10th graduation ceremony Opens in new window

On Friday, May 26, Carnegie Mellon University Africa will celebrate its 10th graduation ceremony, including its first cohort of the Master of Science in Engineering Artificial Intelligence (MS EAI) program.

May 12

$3.3 million awarded to advance digital technology in Africa Opens in new window

Afretec has awarded 11 grants, each led by a multi-university research team, to build research capacity and work toward achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa.

May 02

Wambui Njogu on CMU's Pittsburgh campus in front of Hammerschlag Hall

Wambui Njogu’s path to a career in cybersecurity Opens in new window

On a journey that’s taken her from Kenya to Rwanda to Pittsburgh, MSIT student Wambui Njogu looks back on the experiences that instilled her passion for cybersecurity and how she developed her skills at CMU-Africa.

Apr 27

CMU-Africa Week showcases research and culture Opens in new window

The CyLab Security and Privacy Institute recently hosted CMU-Africa Week on CMU’s Pittsburgh campus. In its first year, the event aimed to build collaboration around research problems in Africa.

Apr 19

Do drones have a future in African agriculture?

CMU-Africa’s Tim Brown researches the integration of drones in African agriculture.

Apr 13

Energy course continuum: a CMU-Africa and Pittsburgh collaboration

Barry Rawn and his colleagues teach a continuum of seven alternative energy courses to both CMU-Africa and Pittsburgh students.

Apr 03

Students in traditional African garb and makeup, standing on a set of stairs

CyLab to host CMU-Africa Week in Pittsburgh Opens in new window

The CyLab Security and Privacy Institute will host CMU-Africa Week April 10-14 on Carnegie Mellon University’s Pittsburgh campus.

Mar 29

A global approach to tackling grand challenges Opens in new window

CMU-Africa students join CMU-Pittsburgh and CMU-Qatar students in a hybrid course that focuses on critically evaluating the progress of artificial intelligence.

Mar 22

Alumnus honored in 2023 class of Tartans on the Rise

CMU recognizes 23 recent alumni making transformational impacts, including Emmanuel Chebukati (MSIT '18).

Related Article Opens in new window

Mar 17

For Placca Umuhire, teaching is the way to give back

Placca Umuhire (MSIT '20) has had a lifelong interest in technology and is drawn to teaching as a way of inspiring others; the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship was a perfect opportunity to pursue both of those goals.

Mar 14

Improving air quality in Africa Opens in new window

CMU-Africa, CMU-Pittsburgh, and global collaborators create an air quality testing center in Ghana with new funding from the Clean Air Fund.

Research paper Opens in new window

Mar 01

CMU alumnus donates cryptocurrency to CMU-Africa

Edwin Kairu, a 2008 Heinz College alumnus and information security instructor at CMU-Africa, made his mark by generously making a gift of cryptocurrency— a new venture for CMU.

Feb 22

CMU Students meet students from Africa at African MRS

Students expand horizons at African MRS Opens in new window

Three students represented CMU at the African Materials Research Society meeting in Senegal

Feb 20

picoCTF aims to close the cybersecurity talent gap Opens in new window

CyLab's picoCTF is working to close the cybersecurity talent gap by introducing the future workforce to the field through its free annual hacking competition and robust learning platform.

Feb 08

Solving Africa’s energy crisis one battery at a time

Barry Rawn and his colleagues are working to achieve affordable energy storage for consumers while also reducing the environmental effects of e-waste.

Jan 31

Building an accessible digital model for malaria screening

Carine Pierrette Mukamakuza is creating an automated malaria screening tool that could revolutionize data accessibility and treatment in Africa.

Jan 20

Two rings encircling a crystal over a grid with three other floating square crystals

AI Engineering will change the world around us Opens in new window

Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering is equipping next generation engineers with the ability to integrate AI into the constraints of the engineering problem by way of seven new master’s degrees in AI Engineering.

Watch the Video Opens in new window

Jan 18

Giving CMU Day was a success for CMU-Africa

In November, CMU-Africa celebrated its sixth annual Giving CMU Day. 147 donors provided over $7,600 of direct support for future graduate students.

Jan 11

Inaugural forum connects Africa’s entrepreneurship ecosystem

CMU-Africa recently held its first entrepreneurship forum which brought together people from across the continent to discuss important challenges and opportunities for African entrepreneurs.

Jan 04

Pan-African network holds inaugural conference

Afretec recently held its inaugural conference at CMU-Africa where it welcomed leadership from member universities across the continent.

Mentions

Imigani

Kariza’s and Obedine’s Miss Geek projects inspire other women in STEM

Flore Obedine (MSIT ’27) developed a disease-identifying diagnostic system for the bootcamp’s competition, which is the flagship project of Girls in ICT. Branice Kariza, incubated in the CMU-Africa Innovation Hub with her cofounder, won the 2025 Miss Geek competition for their startup Signvrse.

Class of 2028 Academic Showcase Day

Academic Showcase Day marked the culmination of the Student Induction Program, giving students the opportunity to showcase AI-enabled solutions they developed to address real-world problems in Africa. Seven projects were shortlisted for their particularly strong problem definition, contextual understanding, innovative solutions and quality of presentation.

Deep Learning Indaba

Research receives Best Poster Award

CMU-Africa research associate and alumna Vicky Uwase recently presented research at Deep Learning Indaba during Africa Research Days. Her poster, "Evaluating the Influence of AI-Generated Explanations on Vulnerability Assessment Decisions in Cybersecurity," received a Best Research Poster Award. The research includes CMU-Africa's Prasenjit Mitra.

Gates Notes

Bill Gates visits the Upanzi Network

Bill Gates recently visited CMU-Africa’s Upanzi Digital Experience Center during a trip to Rwanda. Of the Upanzi Network, Gates said “this is exactly the kind of African-owned, African-built infrastructure that will improve lives across the continent.”

More Mentions

Media inquiries

We offer early insights into newsworthy stories in engineering and exceptionally qualified scientific sources. To schedule interviews, film crews, or media-related visits, please contact the Marketing and Communications Office.

Learn more

Does your project or program have a news story to share with us?

Let us know.