bridges.org - Computer science and universities, Publication

Evaluation of Broadband Applications Network Group (BANG): Final report

Tue, 27 Jun 2006 07:57:07 -0400

Overall, the BANG evaluation was successful in meeting its objectives of helping students mold their research to better address community needs, and in some cases, highlight an ICT policy area. What is perhaps more important is the way in which BANG has evolved from a group of talented students with a focus on pure computer science, to a cohesive team of software engineers with a deep understanding of the socio-cultural issues that impact on -- and are impacted by -- the use of the systems they build.

Evaluation of Broadband Applications Network Group (BANG): Phase two report

Mon, 26 Jun 2006 09:28:59 -0400

The Broadband Applications Networking Group (BANG) is comprised of students pursuing Masters and PhD studies in computer science at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and University of the Western Cape (UWC). Bridges.org was asked to conduct an independent evaluation of the BANG project and assist the group with project planning. The evaluation exercise aimed to help the group realise its goals of linking computer science with community needs and government policy-making. The end result would be an academic policy to help students frame future computer science projects in the context of community implementation and/or policy recommendations.

Evaluation of the Broadband Applications Network Group (BANG): Phase one report

Thu, 07 Aug 2003 21:27:45 -0400

The benefits of locally-funded computer science research to the average African is questionable, as some believe that academic computer science researchers are indulging in projects which are so far divorced from ground level needs that they are wholly esoteric in nature. This issue is further compounded by a skills shortage in the ICT sector in Africa, because there are few people around who can help adapt the outcomes of such research to local challenges.