Ireland, NM-AIST collaborate to strengthen Samia Scholarship DS/AI+ Program
Date: 2026-03-11
By: Robert Kwaku Annor
The
Ambassador of Ireland to Tanzania, H.E. Nicola Brennan has held discussions
with leadership of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and
Technology (NM-AIST) to enhance the implementation of the Samia Scholarship
Extended DS/AI+ program, aimed at developing expertise in Artificial
Intelligence (AI) and Data Science in Tanzania.
Vice
Chancellor Prof. Maulilio Kipanyula noted that the first phase of the program
has enabled 34 Tanzanian students to pursue studies at universities in Ireland.
He added that the Government, through the Ministry of Education, Science and
Technology, the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), and
NM-AIST, will organize a preparatory bootcamp for the next cohort of students.
Ambassador
Brennan praised the Tanzanian Government, led by President Dr. Samia Suluhu
Hassan, for its investment in higher education in AI, Data Science, and
interdisciplinary sciences. She highlighted the importance of increasing
women’s participation in STEM and encouraged institutions to ensure research
outputs translate into market-ready solutions that support economic growth,
food security, and job creation.
During
her visit, Ambassador Brennan toured NM-AIST’s laboratories, the
High-Performance Computing center, the Data Driven Institute, and innovation
hubs, observing the institution’s contribution to advancing science,
technology, and innovation in Tanzania.
