Google has announced the computer science for high schools grants programme for 2012.
Through the Computer Science for High Schools (CS4HS), Google provides funding to 49 universities in 33 countries in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) regions.
The applications for this year have however since been closed. Four Kenyan universities, including African Nazarene University, Strathmore University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Technology and St. Paul’s University, have already put in their applications.
“CS4HS aims to scale CS education knowledge from universities throughout EMEA, by encouraging them to work in tandem with local high schools and teachers. These projects educate and inspire the next generation of computer scientists, through teacher training workshops and curriculum development projects,” Elaine Neumaier of the EMEA University Programs explained.
Other universities in the continent include African University of Science and Technology from Nigeria, University of Yaounde of Cameroon, University of Ghana University of Dodoma from Tanzania, Hawassa University from Ethiopia among many others in Africa.
The grants will majorly be used to hold training workshops for teachers and IT trainers. There is also a category for student training.
“CS4HS has doubled in size and grown in its regional reach, contributing US$420,000 worth of community funding this year,” Elaine confirmed.
“Growth regions include Sub Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Northern Africa, and Eastern Europe where 22 of our projects will run in 2012,” she added.
Some of the great results of this programme include, the robotics training workshop for girls in Switzerland.
“These projects collectively impact thousands of teachers and their students and we’re very excited to see CS4HS continue to grow,” Elaine said.
To the winners of the grant, Google will organize workshop trainings scheduled to take two to three days.
