Pioneering unique, unprecedented partnerships with American and Sudanese universities
MIT-Sudan Global Teaching Labs
Overview: Two-week program that occurs annually in January. It was created by ZAHARA for Education in partnership with MIT Africa. It has been offered virtually in 2021 and 2022 and featured diverse cohorts of students from across Sudan (covering 14 of 18 states). The course is highly interactive and hands-on, using innovative teaching methods that involve students directly.
MIT-Sudan Global Teaching Labs:
The MIT-Sudan Global Teaching Lab is a partnership of ZAHARA with the MIT Africa office, and the first program that the university has done in Sudan. Having begun in 2020, the first two cohorts of the program were taught virtually by senior undergraduate students and graduate students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. They lectured on a vast variety of topics including Climate Change, Energy, Design, and Data. Students benefited from a hands-on learning approach that stems from the university’s motto mens et manus, or ‘Mind and Hand’. The program encourages students to put their great skills into action and propose a complete project that has positive community impact.
Course Topics:
- Change-Making Strategies
- Climate Change & Energy
- UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Data for Social Good
- Principles of Great Design
- Entrepreneurship
- Governance
- Professional Development
- Presentation Skills & Teamwork
- + Final Projects
Featured Past Student Projects:
2022 Theme:
“From Knowledge to Community Action”
The 2022 program featured 55 students, who organized in 9 groups to create their final projects using knowledge and tools from the course and embodying the theme of ‘knowledge to community action’.
To see live past student presentations, visit here.
2021 Theme:
“Being Agents of Change in a Changing World”
The 2021 program featured 50 students, who organized in 8 groups to create their final projects using skills and topics learned from class and creating robust projects around the course theme.
To see live past student presentations, visit here.
Testimonials:
“You inspired me and encouraged me to pursue my dream of studying at MIT. Also, in the future, one of the things I want to do is work with you on something like this. This course was a great opportunity for me, and I learned a lot of things from you, so thank you. <3”
2022 Cohort
“This experience gave so much inspiration and motivation. I aspire to be like you guys some day inshaAllah. The most significant thing is that I think I figured out what major I exactly want, thanks to the design day.”
2022 Cohort
“This was the most diverse group of people I’ve ever worked with and to be honest I never thought I would enjoy it this much, but I did. To be able to participate in such a thing was a true blessing. Much love to all of you.”
2021 Cohort
“To the Zahara team, you guys were awesome and super helpful. Trust me when I say I haven’t enjoyed any kind of lectures in my life other than yours. You’ve helped me a lot, and that’s nothing I’m going to forget. There’s absolutely nothing I would change about the program.”
2021 Cohort
“It was a great opportunity, I had so much fun and worked on the final project with such beautiful minds. Thanks to the amazing Zahara team. You guys are all role models, and thank you so much for your time and effort to help us.”
2021 Cohort
Collaborate to Create the Next Great Partnership:
ZAHARA is looking to expand the amount of collaborations it works on. We are always open to new partners who share our commitment to expanding educational opportunities and exploring all that Sudanese students have to offer. For these entities (university representatives, student groups, companies, and/or non-profits) interested in creating a new partnership with ZAHARA, please contact us here.
ZAHARA for Education 