Empowering Women in Tech: UbuntuNet Alliance Women Hackathon 2023 Promotes Gender Balance
In an effort to promote gender balance and inclusivity in the tech industry, the UbuntuNet Alliance is organizing the Women Hackathon.
This empowering event aims to address the underrepresentation of women in software development and encourage 20 passionate women developers from East and Southern Africa to participate.
The hackathon will be held in conjunction with the UbuntuNet-Connect 2023 Conference in Uganda, under the AfricaConnect3 project, co-funded by the European Commission.
1. Advancing UbuntuNet Alliance’s Mission: Fostering Collaboration and Innovation
The UbuntuNet Alliance is committed to nurturing a thriving community of National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) and partners in Eastern and Southern Africa.
By enabling and strengthening collaboration and innovation among Research and Education Communities, the organization seeks to drive societal progress through research and education.
The Women Hackathon aligns perfectly with these objectives, propelling academia forward and positively impacting society.
2. Theme and Key Focus Areas: Innovating for Research and Education
The hackathon’s overarching theme, “Innovate for Research and Education,” sets the stage for exploring cutting-edge solutions. Participants will focus on three key areas:
a. Innovations for 21st Century Education:
Improving learning experiences and access to education through technology, especially in the post-pandemic era.
b. Innovations for Research Uptake and Impact:
Enhancing stakeholder awareness and access to research outputs, driving policies and practices that benefit society.
c. Innovations for Collaborative Research:
Facilitating effective collaboration among diverse stakeholders in research projects for greater impact.
3. Eligibility and Application Process: Encouraging Gender Diversity
To ensure diverse representation, the hackathon is exclusively open to female participants from UbuntuNet Alliance member countries.
Eligible applicants must be students or graduates within five years of completing their studies.
Teams of four are required to submit a concept note, outlining their ICT solution, methodology, programming skills, and previous experience.
Applications can be made through the online portal before the deadline of 10 August 2023.