The African – Inclusive Digital Industries program (A-IDI), is a partnetship between AfriSMAT and AFRETEC, and is a transformative initiative aimed at equipping African undergraduate and postgraduate engineering students with cutting edge skills in digital manufacturing and material science, including AI, machine learning, robotics, and IoT.

By fostering innovation and self-sufficiency in sectors like construction, energy, and healthcare, the program empowers students to develop sustainable, locally adapted technologies and reduce reliance on imports.

It also prepares participants for advanced MSc and PhD programs through mentorship and collaborative learning, making it a vital platform for African universities and students to drive economic growth, job creation, and technological independence across the continent.

DAY	THEME	TIME	SUMMER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Day – 01 (08/07/2024)	Registration Introduction and fundamentals	08:00-08:50 09:00-12:00 14:00-17:00	Welcome and registration – Introduction to the summer school program and objectives – Icebreaker activity (Facilitate interaction and mingling) – Keynote: The Future of Materials Science and Digital Manufacturing in Africa – Open discussion and working groups on keynote lecture Workshop: Introduction to Materials Science – Basic concepts and recent advances Hands-on session: Introduction to EduPack Software for materials selection and design.
Day – 02 (09/07/2024)	Advanced digital manufacturing techniques	09:00-12:00 14:00-17:00	– Lecture: Overview of Digital Manufacturing Technologies – Demonstration: 3D Printing technologies (if possible) and applications – Workshop: Robotics in manufacturing – Principles, types of robotics and practical applications. – Hands-on session: Operating robotics equipment under supervision.
Day – 03 (10/07/2024)	Computational tools and software	09:00-12:00 14:00-17:00	– Icebreaker team activity – Training session: MATLAB (or ANSYS) for engineers’ data analysis, simulation and visualization – Case study: Analysis using MATLAB (or ANSYS) – Discussion: Problem-solving session using computational tools
Day – 04 (11/07/2024)	Optimization and Artificial Intelligence	09:00-12:00 14:00-17:00	– Lecture: Introduction to Artificial Neural Networks in manufacturing – Training: Artificial Neural Networks in manufacturing – Icebreaker activity (fun using AI) – Mini project: Teams use AI and optimization to solve a predefined problem
Day – 05 (12/07/2024)	Integration and Project Presentation	09:00-12:00 14:00-17:00	– Teams work on integrating knowledge from previous days to create a comprehensive project – Mentoring session: Feedback from instructors and peers – Final presentation of projects – Panel discussion: Bridging the gap between academia and industry in materials science

No.	Feedback Category	% Positive (Agree/Strongly Agree)
1	Content relevance and clarity	96%
2	Facilitator preparedness	100%
3	Practical sessions effectiveness	92%
4	Program organization and logistics	96%
5	Increased interest in postgraduate study	88%
6	Perception of increased digital skills for Materials and Manufacturing	92%