Deadline: January 22, 2021
Applications are open for the University of Nairobi Research & Innovation Fellowship 2021. As a leading institution of learning and research, the University of Nairobi, through C4DLab (the Innovation and Incubation Hub) and a strategic industry partner, is running a 6 month-long prestigious Research & Innovation Fellowship.
The competitive fellowship will give 20 select fellows an opportunity to solve real-life local problems while applying the 21st century 4Cs skills and explore human-centered design/Design thinking methodologies. The fellows – together with other curious change makers and a community of research and innovation experts – will engage in rewarding research, problem solving and innovation projects in financial services.
Program Components
The select fellows will undertake a deep immersion into four pillars that shall prepare them as researchers and innovators. The four pillars are:
- 21st century 4 C’s skills of Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking and Creativity.
- Principles and practices of Design Thinking, Innovation, and Problem Based Learning (fundamentals)
- Multi-disciplinary practical problem-solving.
- Practical research techniques – data collection, surveys, Focus Group Discussions, observation, and contextual interviews.
Eligibility
- Open to final level undergraduate and Masters-level students (interested PhD students will also be considered);
- Students from the following Schools/faculties/departments: Computer Science, Business, Development Studies, Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Law, Actuarial Science, Engineering, and Agriculture;
- Curious about research and innovation and particularly application of Design Thinking to solving real-life local problems;
- Submit evidence of challenges that one has attempted to solve, CV, practical work portfolio and a motivation why your application should be considered;
- Available to commit close to a 6 month-long program allocating an average of 15 hours per week to the fellowship program;
- Demonstrated passion and interest in problem-solving and innovation challenges.
Application
The applicant will be required to fill a four-part form that will collect the following information:
- Personal Information: This includes basic information about the applicant such as name, student identification number, etc.
- Educational Background: Considering the Fellowship program targets students at specific education levels, the applicant is required to fill in the correct information regarding their education history/current status.
- Professional Background: The applicant is expected to answer a couple of questions about their interest in the fellowship and ways in which it will aid their career paths.
- Documents Upload: Finally the applicant will be required to upload specific documents that include their CV, Work Portfolio, Academic Recommendation Letter and Professional Recommendation Letter.
For more information, visit University of Nairobi.
