ACEDS attends the final TAM Meeting, hailed for a decade of impact

The Africa Centre of Excellence in Data Science (ACEDS joined other Centres of Excellence under the Eastern and Southern Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence (ACE) initiative at the final Technical and Advisory Council Meeting (TAM), marking a significant milestone in the programme’s journey.

The meeting served as a platform to recognize and celebrate the remarkable achievements and transformative impact delivered by the Centres of Excellence over the past ten years. Participants highlighted how the initiative has strengthened higher education, advanced research and innovation, and delivered practical solutions that positively impact communities across the region.

Throughout the meeting, Centres showcased key achievements realized during a decade of implementation, including cutting-edge research outputs, innovative technologies, capacity building of students and faculty, and strong linkages with industry and society. These achievements underscored the Centres’ role in driving knowledge-based development and addressing regional and global challenges.

Among the achievements that the Centre celebrated include the graduation of 13 PhD candidates and 140 Master’s students, establishment of labs data Driven Incubation Hub, the acquisition of the High Computer the secured grand of more than  $600 thousand, training of professionals in different data science-related programs, among others.  

In addition to reflecting on successes, participants shared lessons learned from implementing large-scale academic and research programmes, providing valuable insights to inform future initiatives. Discussions also focused on sustainability strategies to ensure that the gains achieved by the Centres are maintained and scaled beyond the programme’s lifecycle.

The final TAM meeting further brought together key stakeholders to strengthen existing partnerships, foster new collaborations, and explore opportunities for mobilizing resources to support future growth. These engagements reaffirmed the importance of academia–industry–government collaboration in sustaining innovation and impact.

ACEDS’s participation in the final TAM meeting reaffirmed its commitment to excellence in education, research, and innovation, while contributing to a shared vision of sustainable development and regional transformation through higher education.

The Centre Director was awarded certificates for the successfully implementation of the ACE II project.