August 24, 2015
The fourth edition of the Ashesi Innovation Experience (AIX) came to a grand close this past weekend, as parents, family, and friends of over 100 students gathered on campus to see the projects students had developed. The AIX, previously named the Ashesi Robotics Experience (ARX), is an exciting two-week enrichment program, organized in partnership with The Mastercard Foundation, that brings students from different high schools to Ashesi’s campus. Ashesi’s faculty designs the curriculum for the program, and students, alumni, and other volunteers help as mentors and program assistants. This year participants came from Ghana, the UK, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, with some mentors coming from the US.
Over the two weeks, participants were exposed to design and creative problem solving, leadership, entrepreneurship, robotics programming, and engineering, through hands-on projects and experiential learning.
In the first week, activities focused on broad training in leadership and design, and students were taught how to apply creative thinking to everyday problems, and in their everyday lives. In the second week, participants broke into different groups around Engineering, Robotics or Entrepreneurship, where they worked on various projects in teams.
Some of the projects students worked on included building model robots that could simulate collecting and sorting waste in Accra, building solar-powered flash-lights and designing a business model for an initiative that helps put underprivileged children into after-school skills training classes.
“AIX is an opportunity to expose young people to new ways of thinking,” says Project Lead and Computer Science Professor, Dr. Ayorkor Korsah. “We are looking to teach participants how to take crazy ideas and make them realistic, and also have the courage to lead.”
Participants got the chance to interact with thought leaders and entrepreneurs across Ghana, including Ehi Benitie of Rancard Solutions, Anne Amuzu of Nandimobile, Regina Agyare ofSoronko Solutions, Ghanaian NASA Rocket Scientist Dr. Ave Kludze, and a host of others. The students were also taken on field trips to recycling plants, engineering firms and a number of start-ups to have real-world experience of what they were being taught in class.
“Last year, my son could not attend as he was too young,” said Kwame Amanquah Twum, a parent. “Thankfully, he made it this year and I’m hopeful that aside from learning skills in leadership and entrepreneurship, he would use this opportunity to come out of his shell and expand his network.”
In the closing ceremony, students and groups from the various groups were given awards around outstanding projects and personal development. Emmanuel Bimpong of SOS Hermann Gmeiner School was awarded for being the most outstanding student at AIX2015.
“It’s been fun and insightful,” added Maame Efua Orleans-Boham of Wesley Girl’s Senior High School. “My journey started with lateral thinking – thinking around the rules – and I will be able to apply the problem-solving skills not only in the classroom but also in everyday activities.”
This year’s Innovation Experience was organized with support from Airtel Ghana, Rancard Solutions, Vodafone Ghana, General Electric, Ostec, and Citi Investments Company Limited. Media partners included Citi FM and Joy FM.