Poly hosts Arduino Workshop

News   Chapter Banda   March 19, 2019
PIC: Participants working on their prototypes during the event
In a quest to improve innovation among graduates and students from various corridors of higher learning institution, The Malawi Polytechnic and Transfer Multisort Electronik (TME) Education Africa, on Saturday, March 16, 2019 organised an Arduino workshop.

The workshop focused on equipping attendees with expertise on how to use it in as far as designing innovative projects is concerned.

The event aimed at bringing various designers, innovators, entrepreneurs and engineers together to appreciate significant roles the Arduino microcontrollers play in designing projects.

The workshop which took place at the institution’s Design Studio tackled various topics which among others include, how innovators can indulge themselves in entrepreneurship, challenges faced while using manual tools and system in line of duty.

One of the speakers at the event, Dumisani Kaliati, former student of the Polytechnic, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MacroMek Limited shared his experience to the participants on how he started his company.

Kaliati said that, the genesis of his company was full of obstacles as he was using stipend money to cutter for his company expenses.  

“I started my company when I was in third year in 2015 at Polytechnic, though things were not going smooth. I was using upkeep allowances to pay rentals for the company. In addition, I was also using the same allowance to buy various electronic devices likes of Arduino, to develop innovations,” Kaliati narrated.

Kaliati further encouraged the participants to indulge themselves in entrepreneurship and embrace the notion of creating jobs to alleviate unemployment levels among the youths across the country.

On her part Design Studio Director, Brittany Allen commended TME Education Africa for choosing their studio to host the 2019 Arduino Day.

Allen encouraged students to use readily available resources at the institution to scale up their prototypes showcased during the event.

During the event attendees showcased their prototypes they designed using Arduino and the best innovator was recognised through judging panel.

Chikumbutso Walani’s project, Garden monitoring system was crowned the best, he received a set of Arduino and other electronics.


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