Why Mobile Technology?

Africa is currently the world's fastest growing mobile phone market. Over the past five years the number of mobile phone subscribers on the continent has increased at an annual rate of 65% - twice the global average. A mobile phone is not only a communication device, it also represents the most accessible computing device to the majority of Africans. Mobile phones are tools that can promote development by inspiring new business opportunities and increasing efficiencies. Local entrepreneurs' innovative use of mobile technology is at the heart of this revolution.

Curriculum and Programs

AITI developed its own Mobile Application Development in Java curriculum intended for undergraduate students. The course teaches real-world technologies and awakens our students to the possibilities of technology. Most recently, AITI held its course at Strathmore University in Nairobi, Kenya, June 8 - July 20, 2009. Please see the blog for updates regarding the course.

How You Can Help

AITI supporters believe that appropriate technology can catalyze development in Africa. Our supporters also value the international experience opportunities AITI provides for our MIT student/instructors. Here are some ways you can help:

• Please join our list of generous benefactors. Click here to learn about donating
• Our instructors are current MIT students (both undergraduates and graduates). Click here to learn about applying
• AITI is always looking for volunteers and partnerships. Click here to contact AITI.

Mailing List

These are exciting times for AITI as we look to adapt and expand. If you would like to receive announcements and updates about AITI, join our mailing list. Your email will remain confidential.

Info Session Slides

In case you missed AITI's General Info Session, you can find the slides here. This event focused on our motivation, goals, and strategies. Soon we will hold an info session for Summer 2010 teaching positions.

What is AITI?

AITI is a student-run organization of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that promotes development in Africa by cultivating young technology entrepreneurs. AITI develops curriculum materials, software technologies, platforms, and networks that enable African undergraduate students to innovate in the area of information and communication technologies (ICTs).

Most directly, AITI partners with African universities and organizes advanced courses taught by MIT student/instructors. Our courses focus on mobile and Internet technologies, and are structured so that our students are awakened to the commercial possibilities of the technologies. Components of the course include detailed technical curriculum, funded business competitions, guest lectures, and networking events, all to help our students develop and realize their ideas.

Concurrent to its courses, AITI scales its impact by transferring teaching expertise to our African partner universities so that they can incorporate components of our courses with little intervention. Furthermore, AITI creates online course material so that we can reach students across the globe.

Since 2000, AITI has sent nearly 100 MIT instructors to teach over 1200 African students in four countries, resulting in the creation of African businesses and the addition of course offerings at our partner universities.

Testimonials

AITI definitely opened my eyes to new ways of coding and ways of researching for yourself. The general feel of the program was focused on do you understand what you're doing?...so many different areas you focus on, from web to enterprise to cell phone programming, use the skills your learn in this course.

-Mark Kaigwa (Student, AITI Kenya 2007)

Teaching in Ethiopia was a revelation for me. Our team met weekly for a semester, planning and rehearsing. When we arrived, we were constantly impressed by the energy and passionate commitment our students had for our class. AITI showed me how large an impact an MIT student group can have on the world.

- Jeremy Franklin (MIT Instructor, AITI Ethiopia 2006)