The IEEE Computational Intelligence Society (CIS) and the Association of African Universities (AAU) aim to develop a program for stakeholders in Africa to increase their engagement in computational and artificial intelligence (AI).  

This program is motivated by the limited participation of African academics in computational and artificial intelligence – in comparison to the rest of the world. This is evidenced, for example, by the comparatively low numbers of papers submitted and/or published at premier AI conferences and journals by African authors. In addition, to date, there has been limited ‘bottom-up’ activity to establish support and engagement mechanisms such as via IEEE CIS membership and academic community engagement such as via CIS Chapters across most of Africa.  

As its overall outcome, the program targets an increase in CI/AI engagement, evidenced including through increased activity such as submission/publication of papers, CIS memberships, and Chapters from the African continent, including from academic, industry, and government stakeholders.  

 This Call for Expression of Interest 

The AAU and the IEEE CIS are calling for academics based in Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia that are keen to be involved in the computational and artificial intelligence program of activities, to respond to this call. The academics that are being targeted include: 

1. Lecturers, researchers and professors whose speciality is broadly in computer science, engineering, STEM and related areas.
2. Recent PhD graduates / post-docs and PhD students whose speciality is broadly in computer science, engineering, STEM and related areas.

 Successful applicants will be engaged in an initial, virtual planning workshop with the following objectives: 

1. Discuss and establish local priorities in the field of computational and artificial intelligence.
2. Discuss existing barriers and identify primary needs/ requirements/ activities which would be of benefit to support improved engagement with computational and artificial intelligence (CI/AI).
3. Discuss existing engagement programs run by IEEE CIS, including: 
4. IEEE CIS International Mentoring Program 
5. IEEE CIS Paper Development Workshop 
6. Jointly co-design a plan for a range of engagement activities to be organised at future events. 

 Targeted Outcomes of this planning workshop 

• A list of identified local stakeholders who are interested in attending and/or contributing to future engagement activities, including through hosting such events.
• A plan for future joint CIS-AAU CI/AI engagement activities for both established and new stakeholders in Africa, complete with associated timeframe, planned activities, and location(s). 

 How to submit the Expression of Interest 

Interested academics are requested to submit their interests by completing the online form via this link: https://forms.office.com/r/15EnwAfDP5  

 Deadlines and Notification of Acceptance 

The deadline for submission of the expressions of interest is close of business on Friday, 6^th April 2024. We aim to send notification of acceptance to the planning workshop within three weeks of the above submission deadline. 

 Contact Information 

If you have any queries concerning this call, please contact the Association of African Universities through Ms Nodumo Dhlamini on email: ndhlamini@aau.org with a copy to amsulemana@aau.org