• MindHYVE.ai and the Inter-University Council for East Africa signed a partnership to equip 170+ universities with AI learning tools and certifications.
• The agreement enables universities to access ArthurAI, 50 certified courses, and AI literacy credentials co-issued with the California Institute of Artificial Intelligence.
• The two-year programme aims to build regional AI skills, improve academic mobility, and align higher-education systems with labour-market demand.

The rise of artificial intelligence continues to redefine educational priorities across East Africa. The region, shaped by a young population and a fast-changing economy, seeks to structure its capability building to remain competitive in the global digital transformation.

MindHYVE.ai, Inc., a US-based company specialising in agentic artificial intelligence, and the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), the regional body responsible for higher-education harmonisation, signed a partnership on Tuesday, December 9, in Kampala. The agreement aims to turn the region into a future AI skills hub by equipping IUCEA-member universities with advanced learning tools and internationally recognised certification programmes.

“This partnership marks a defining moment for East Africa. Equipping our universities, educators and students with AI knowledge and ethical mastery is essential for the advancement of our region,” said Professor Idris A. Rai, IUCEA’s acting executive secretary. He underscored the region’s ambition to strengthen its competitiveness in the global digital economy.

In its first phase, the agreement will give more than 170 universities access to ArthurAI, MindHYVE.ai’s agentic learning platform, which will be deployed through a regional pilot. The project also includes 50 certified courses under the “The Dawn Directive” programme, AI literacy and proficiency certifications co-issued with the California Institute of Artificial Intelligence, and training sessions for lecturers and academic leaders. A joint committee will supervise the two-year implementation, evaluation and potential scale-up.

This collaboration emerges as demand for digital skills accelerates. East Africa, home to one of the continent’s youngest populations, still struggles to meet the needs for advanced training in emerging technologies. The World Bank estimates that sub-Saharan Africa could create nearly 230 million jobs requiring digital skills by 2030, even as qualification gaps continue to hinder this transition. Governments in the region are adopting national AI, innovation and higher-education reform strategies, creating favourable conditions for regional initiatives.

The implementation of this partnership should enable East Africa to train more students and professionals in skills essential to a digital economy. It also provides universities with a shared foundation to enhance programme quality, increase academic mobility and structure training pathways aligned with the region’s rising technological needs. The initiative could further support member states’ efforts to modernise higher education and integrate emerging technologies into academic curricula.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum