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Safaricom and Strathmore University partner for Mobile Applications Academy.

Safaricom, Kenya’s largest mobile network and Strathmore University, one of Kenya’s leading private Universities have partnered for mobile applications training in Kenya via the “Safaricom Academy” initiative. According to Safaricom, the goal of the Safaricom Academy is to create employment through innovation and grow young talent through mobile application development that is relevant to Kenya.

The Safaricom Academy also aims to create the relevant competence in mobile applications development through partnership with existing educational institutions by enhancing their curriculum. The media announcement also emphasized that the Safaricom Academy will also act as a incubator for young application developers, enabling them to create and innovate. The main goals for the Safaricom Academy are:

  • Promote local innovation in developing relevant applications for the Kenyan market.
  • Create an enabling environment for the development of relevant mobile applications.
  • Attracting companies with applications to host them within the Safaricom Portal.

I have to admit that of all the goals the last one points to the fact that Safaricom is ultimately looking to build a mobile applications store within their Safaricom.com mobile portal that it would be able to monetize. This will possibly further strengthen their leadership as the only 3G mobile network in Kenya. In a nutshell, Safaricom is going as far as training the next generation of mobile application developers to “feed” its data business.

In addition, by rolling out the Safaricom Academy, it goes to show that Safaricom is investing in ensuring that more and more local content and mobile applications are available in the marketplace, going forward, via their mobile network. Its a smart move not just to own the pipes but also the content that goes through it (I hope the other mobile networks are paying attention to the implications of this initiative!).

The criteria for enrollment into the Safaricom Academy as published are as follows:

  • Be self-motivated and have a strong interest in mobile application development as a career.
  • Be a recent graduate for final year student in Degree/Diploma in information technology, computer science, electrical engineering, business information technology or equivalent course.
  • Should have attained an upper second/distinction or equivalent (final year students should have a cumulative grade leading to an upper second or equivalent).
  • Have experience in java programming and object-oriented design.
  • Have a good knowledge of a relational database management system (e.g. MySQL, MS SQL, Oracle or a similar DBMS) and experience in database design.
  • Be fully available to attend this course for its entire duration (5 weeks on full-time basis).
  • Experience handling SMS APIs will be an added vantage.

Candidates for the Safaricom Academy can apply for entry via Strathmore University’s web site at
http://www.strathmore.edu/mobile/register.php

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7 Comments

  1. DENNIS OPANY
    May 17, 2010 at 2:32 am — Reply

    THIS IS A NOBLE INITIATIVE. KUDOS SAFARICOM

    • May 17, 2010 at 5:32 am — Reply

      This is indeed SUPER! If I was a techie I would be salivating right now. A ready market of 7+ million subscribers with phones that can access multimedia content easily within Safcom, add an environment where close to zero innovation is being pushed on the mobile phone platform and you have a capitalist’s wet dream- the information gold rush of the 21st Century has begun…god’s speed to all developers…Safcom have shown great thinking and are strengthening their future buy owning more content (am sure all apps will be copyrights of Safcom) MJ (Michael Joseph) does it again…this guy cant do something wrong can he?
      .-= Tirus Muchiri´s last blog ..Mixtapes: The Entry Level of Hiphop =-.

  2. May 19, 2010 at 5:36 am — Reply

    This is great, what we have been calling for see http://bit.ly/dA3m7Y

  3. Natacha
    May 31, 2010 at 9:33 am — Reply

    It started today and i was among the few chosen…so far so good we have learnt alot today.

  4. Dennis Laibon Muriithi
    July 19, 2010 at 5:29 pm — Reply

    Hi,I would like to know which application are supported by a nokia 1680 classic phone.Also I would like to know why nokia 1680 classic phone memory is protected thus it can not be accesed

  5. Jackson Kanyi
    December 24, 2010 at 5:29 am — Reply

    This is superb. I have an IDEA about an application you can
    develop to improve how people do business. How do I communicate it
    to you?

  6. jacob neyole
    March 28, 2011 at 6:11 am — Reply

    this is the best forum where we young minds can share to the world what we are worth of.Lets go guys!Cheers safaricom and strathmore University.

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