Dr Dasigi Visits PK Fokam Institute of Excellence

Dr Venu Dasigi, chair of the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, recently visited the P.K. Fokam Institute of Excellence in Yaoundé, Cameroon, to mark the start of a new collaborative program between the P.K. Fokam Institute of Excellence and Southern Polytechnic State University.  The program will allow students to complete the first three years of their degree program in Yaoundé before coming to Marietta to complete their undergraduate degree, and possibly a master's degree, at SPSU.  At the moment, the only programs that are offered at the P.K. Fokam Institute of Excellence are Computer Science and Information Technology, but the intention is to start offering additional programs later.

The primary purpose of Dr Dasigi's visit was to discuss our introductory computing courses, primarily in Java programming and digital design, with faculty at the P.K. Fokam Institute, as well as the assessment processes that the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering uses to ensure the quality of its program, and the instructional technologies used at SPSU.  Dr Dasigi also gave a research seminar and met with faculty and students from the University of Yaoundé.

The P.K. Fokam Institute of Excellence was established in 2007 by Dr Paul Fokam, President of the Afriland First Bank, which he co-founded in 1987.  Afriland First Bank is managed by Cameroonians and provides microfinance, for example to farmers and market women.  According to an interview in Cameroon-Info.net Dr Fokam established the P.K. Fokam Institute of Excellence to create a cadre of leaders in Africa who can spearhead the economic development of Africa, as well as promote its culture.