Grow Green Africa
  • Home
  • Latest News & Posts

Latest News & Posts

News

Gr2A Partners meet in Swakopmund, Namibia for a Paper Writing Workshop

In an attempt to achieve the set target of 35 or more publications within the Grow Green Africa (Gr2A) Consortium, the following participants: Vuyelwa Ruwodo, University of Turku (UTU), Ronald Karon and Prof Nikodemus Angula, Namibian University of Science and Technology (NUST-NAM), Sibusisiwe  Dube, National University of Science and Technology (NUST-ZIM), and George Mufungulwa, Copperbelt university (CBU), met for a workshop in Swakopmund from the 2nd to the 6th of June 2025.

The Paper Writing Workshop.

The workshop was organized to train the trainers in research paper writing. Trainees emerging from the workshop were tasked to go into their institutions and share with both staff and students in the Consortium, writing skills acquired from the workshop.

Several topics relating to each institution’s area of focus were identified. The following were among the identified areas: Climate change in irrigation; Climate change resilience in livestock management; Agricultural Advisory Services on Climate Adaptation; Precision Farming and Water conservation and Curriculum Harmonization. The Swakopmund workshop not only provided an opportunity for participants to engage in paper writing activities but also to bond on a more personal level.

With the workshop held in their lodgings, participants had an opportunity to interact informally over the dining table or in the kitchen. Strong bonds were therefore forged among the workshop participants which spanned beyond academia to focus on personal interests.

The workshop therefore, further paved way for future collaboration in various areas of interest since the Intra-Africa Mobility Scheme is not limited to academic collaboration. In the words of one of the participants, Prof S. Dube, “Apart from spearheading academic collaboration, this workshop has also encouraged us to learn our neighbor’s culture at the same time the weakening the divisive effects of borders hence strengthening familiarity between neighbors.”

Above: From L- R: Mr Vuyelwa Ruwodo, University of Turku (UTU), Prof Nikodemus Angula and Mr Ronald Karon, Namibian University of Science and Technology (NUST-NAM), Prof. Sibusisiwe Dube, National University of Science and Technology (NUST-ZIM), squatting, Dr George Mufungulwa, Copperbelt university (CBU).

News

Erkki Sutinen Presents the 1st Gr2A Conference Paper at FIE 2024

In a ground-breaking achievement for the Grow Green Africa (Gr2A) Project, Erkki Sutinen, the coordinator of the Gr2A Chapter at the University of Turku, Finland, made history by presenting the first conference paper of the Grow Green Africa Project at the Frontiers in Education (FIE) 2024 Conference held in Washington, D.C., USA, from the 13th to the 16th of October 2024. With a theme “Embracing the Challenges and Transforming Engineering and Computing Education in a Technology-Enhanced World” the conference brought in presenters from across the globe. The conference, a leading international platform for electrical engineering and computing, showcased innovative advancements in the field.

The Gr2A presentation, titled “Integrating Green Computing Competencies Into Southern African Curricula” was a paper written by Vuyelwa David Ruwodo (University of Turku, Finland); Lannie Uwu-khaeb (University of Turku, Finland); George Mufungulwa (The Copperbelt University, Zambia); Nikodemus Angula (Namibia University of Science and Technology, Namibia); Sibonile Moyo (National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe); and Erkki Sutinen (University of Turku, Finland),” The paper discusses the development of a curriculum designed for use by the five African universities involved in a European Union funded project. The curriculum is designed to equip Computing postgraduate students with knowledge. skills, and competencies necessary for the mitigation of climate change from a computing perspective.

Presenting at FIE2024 is a significant milestone for the Gr2A project as it disseminates the output of the project at a global scale. Further it validates the hard work and dedication of the project team. As a project we feel honored to contribute to the global discourse on Green Computing, and the Computing field in general. The presentation was well-received by the international audience, generating significant interest and discussion. The paper is expected to have a profound impact on Computing practices.

News

Gr2A partners meet Masifundise Community Family Care and Development Centre representatives to forge partnerships

On Wednesday the 23rd of July 2024, consortium members from the Rhodes University Chapter of the Grow Green Africa (Gr2A) project and representatives of the Masifundise Community Family Care and Development Centre (MCFCDC), a non-profit organization that is based in Makhanda, met to forge a partnership with the purpose of working together in the renewable energy space.

While the Gr2A is a consortium of researchers from various universities based in the SADC region that are conducting research on technologies to support climate change mitigation through green computing, the MCFCDC is involved in various projects for the development of township and rural communities in the Makana Municipality. The Gr2A consortium consists of researchers from the Copperbelt University in Zambia, Rhodes University in South Africa, the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe, Namibia University of Science and Technology in Namibia, and the University of Eswatini in Eswatini, each with specialization in a particular area of green computing. The University of Turku in Finland is the European Union (EU) technical partner of the project.

What brought the Rhodes Chapter of the Gr2A consortium and the MCFCDC, is that both are interested in community development and both are working in the renewable energy space. The Makana Energy landscape is an initiative of the MCFCDC, to redraw the energy supply landscape in Makana through the introduction of renewable energy. The Rhodes University Chapter of the Gr2A falls under the auspices of the ICT4D (Information and Communication Technology for Development) research group whose mandate is to harness computing technologies to develop both rural and township communities and bring about socio-economic change to such. This Gr2A chapter of the project will be supporting both local and postgraduate students in community-based service learning, meaning that the students will be offering their research and computing skills in renewable energy to developing Makana communities, while they will in turn gain practical industrial experience. The MCFCDC will be the link between the Gr2A consortium to their broad base of industrial partners from the Makana municipality in renewable energy.

As the partnership meeting drew to a close, the participants emerged with a newfound appreciation of the need for university, industry and community partnerships that can result in community development.  Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Lungile Mxube, the Executive Chairman of the MCFCDC said, “I look forward to the outcome of this partnership for the betterment of our communities”. Adding to the call for university-community partnerships, Professor Philip Machanick, the Director of MCFCDC, Emeritus Associate Professor at Rhodes University and a community activist said, “Community development has always been at the top of Rhodes University’s agenda and like in all previous projects, I am looking forward to this partnership enhancing the livelihoods of the local communities”.

From L-R: Prof Philip Machanick, Dr. Zelalem Shibeshi, Mr. Lungile Mxube, Prof. Nomusa Dlodlo, Mr Tyron Ncube, Dr. Gugu Baduza

News

Gr2A Experts Meet to Develop a Green Computing Curriculum

The Gr2A Consortium Project team members attended a Curriculum Harmonization Workshop hosted by the Copperbelt University in Solwezi District of North-western province of Zambia (27-29 May 2024). The Workshop was held to develop content on climate change and ICTs applicable to Green Computing. The curriculum seeks to address challenges of Climate Change in Sub-saharan Africa.

The attendees of the workshop were tasked with designing a green computing curriculum that can equip the youth across Africa with the knowledge and skills to address the challenges brought about by climate change in a systematic way. The curriculum will lay the foundation for both course-based and research-based Masters in Computing Science programmes, with a specialization in climate change.  The workshop created a dynamic curriculum that encompasses study programmes in climate science, machine learning, applied Internet of Things (IoTs), applied data science and climate modelling. 

As the workshop drew to a close, the Gr2A team emerged with a newfound appreciation for collaboration and innovation in developing a curriculum that will shape the future agenda of climate change. Speaking on the sidelines of the workshop, Prof Josephat Kalezhi, the Dean of the School of Information and Communication Technology at the Copperbelt University, who was also the convener of the workshop said, “This workshop has set a precedence for the consortium and I look forward to many such workshops in various consortium member institutions as we share knowledge and implement our Gr2A project”.

Left to right: Dr Nikodemus Angula Namibia University of Science and Technology, (Namibia), Dr George Mufungulwa (CBU), Dr Derrick Ntalasha (CBU), Prof Jameson Mbale (CBU), Dr Zelalem Shibeshi (Rhodes University, SA), Mr Khulekani Sibanda (National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe), Prof. Santhi Kumaran (CBU), Dr. Cuthbert Makomdo (CBU), Mr David Ruwodo (University of Turku, Finland), Prof. Josephat Kalezhi (CBU), Ms Edna Musonda (CBU), DrWisdom Dlamini (University of Eswatini), Dr Charles Chisanga (CBU), Dr Alice Shemi (CBU).

News

The Gr2A Consortium Represented at the EU Intra-Africa Mobility Project Coordinators Meeting

In a landmark initiative aimed at bolstering collaboration and mobility within African higher education institutions, the European Union (EU) hosted a significant meeting from the 20th to the 25th of March 2024 in Brussels, Belgium. The event titled ” the EU Intra-Africa Mobility Academic Mobility Coordinators Kick-Off Meeting,” brought together key stakeholders, policymakers, and academic representatives from across the African continent to deliberate on strategies for enhancing the skills and competencies of university staff and students in the area of climate change and mitigation through academic mobility.

The gathering served as a platform for constructive dialogue and exchange of ideas, reflecting the shared commitment of the EU and African nations to promote higher education in Africa by increasing the availability of trained and qualified manpower through mobility between African higher education institutions. Represented at the workshop were 65 African universities, representing 15 African countries, whose Intra-mobility projects were selected from a total of 127 project proposals submitted to the EU. The Grow Green project (Gr2A) project consortium was represented by project coordinators from the Copperbelt University in Zambia, Rhodes University in South Africa, the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe, Namibia University of Science and Technology in Namibia, the University of Eswatini in Eswatini and the University of Turku in Finland. The Gr2A is a project that aims to equip PhD students, Masters students, trainees and staff from the Southern African region with competencies in green computing technologies.

Throughout the three-day event, participants engaged in comprehensive discussions on various aspects of the intra-Africa mobility in higher education programme, including contractual obligations of the project, management of international mobility and the monitoring and evaluation of such projects. Emphasis was placed on identifying challenges, sharing best practices, and exploring innovative solutions to promote seamless mobility and integration within higher education institutions on the African continent on climate change-related issues. In addition to formal sessions, the meeting provided valuable opportunities for networking and collaboration, allowing participants to forge partnerships, exchange expertise, and explore potential avenues for cooperation. The spirit of solidarity and partnership permeated the event, reflecting a shared vision for a more interconnected higher education in Africa on climate change mitigation.

From L-R: Prof. Nomusa Dlodlo (Rhodes University), Mr David Ruwodo (Turku University), Dr. Sibonile Moyo (NUST Zimbabwe), Dr. Nikodemus Angula (NUST Namibia)

As the meeting concluded, participants reaffirmed their commitment to advancing intra-Africa mobility and pledged to translate discussions into concrete actions and policies. The gathering in Brussels served as a testament to the EU’s unwavering support for Africa’s development agenda and its commitment to fostering collaboration and partnership with the continent. The EU Intra-Africa Mobility Project Meeting in Brussels marked a significant milestone in the journey.

News

Welcome To Grow Green Africa (Gr2A)!

The Grow Green Africa (Gr2A) project aims to equip 10 PhD students, 35 Master of Science students, and 8 trainees from the Southern African region with competencies in green computing technologies. The project will also support the mobility of 15 staff members from the five participating African institutions which are: the National University of Science and Technology (NUST Zimbabwe), Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST Namibia), the Copperbelt University (CBU) of Zambia, Rhodes University (RU) of South Africa and the University of University of Eswatini (UNESWA) of Eswatini, for the purposes of knowledge exchange to address Southern Africa’s skills shortage in green computing. The technical lead will be provided by a European Union partner from Finland, which is the University of Turku (UTU).