Magdi Amin brings practicum on responsible digital development to CMU-Africa

Carnegie Mellon University Africa is pleased to welcome Magdi M. Amin as adjunct instructor. Amin joined CMU-Africa on September 1, 2025, where he teaches the Practicum on Responsible Digital Development.

The practicum, part of the Master of Science in Information Technology program, gives students real-world experience working with external client organizations on responsible digital development. Students have the opportunity to balance economic, commercial, technical, and ethical considerations in deploying digital solutions.

"Technology can be a great enabler, but it can also create risks for people or harm communities," said Amin. "My goal is to equip students with the skills they need to view technology development ethically in order to support economic development and growth."

Amin has also taught the practicum at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, where he is an adjunct professor. In the course, his students have tackled digital development topics such as "Rwanda's E-Government Journey," "Ukraine's Deep-Fake Policy," and "Responsible Implementation of Digital Identity in Ethiopia."

"We are excited to welcome Magdi Amin to our faculty. He is a true expert in the field of responsible digital development," said Conrad Tucker, director of CMU-Africa. "He brings knowledge and experience that will give our students an important perspective of the role that ethics plays in the digital transformation of Africa."

Amin is the managing partner of African Renaissance Ventures, which backs early-stage ventures that use technology to impact climate, human capital development, and economic inclusion. Much of his career has been focused on ethical leadership and responsibly using the power of markets and technology to empower people. He spent two decades with the International Finance Corporation and the World Bank in Africa, East Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa region. He also was managing director at Omidyar Network within the Responsible Technology practice. In addition, he was senior advisor to the Minister of Finance in the Transitional Government of Sudan, supporting economic reforms to stabilize the economy.

Education has been important to Amin since he was a young boy. A Sudanese American, Amin grew up with his grandmother—who felt strongly about education because she was denied it herself—and saw the difference in opportunities available in the United States and developing countries. Since then, he has been passionate about using technology to improve education outcomes.