By Pascal Kwesiga
Makerere University has partnered with a US-based non-profit making organisation to provide students of software engineering with training, mentorship and internship opportunities.

A total of 50 software engineering students have so far been trained in agile software development methodologies by ThoughtWorks a US-based ICT consultancy firm in partnership with the Grameen Foundation, Yo! Uganda and SMS media.

The university signed a memorandum of understanding with the Grameen Foundation last year to help develop the students’ skills. The first training sessions were conducted by a team of trainers from ThoughtWorks and supported by local developers from Grameen Foundation Uganda last week at the university.

Zaynab H. Leeya, a programme manager with ThoughtWorks, said the students had been given an introduction to methodologies of software production that are tailored to address today’s market’s needs.

She says the methods are customer focused, adding that they are some of the leading methodologies used across the world to develop custom software that addresses the needs of the users.

Eric Kamara, the Grameen Foundation technology manager, explains that they would conduct training sessions for the students regularly so that they have sufficient practical skills relevant to the job market in the country.

He noted that the software methodologies that had been introduced can be useful in developing programmes to improve operations and service delivery in all areas of software including health, finance and agriculture.

The students said the initiative had offered them the opportunity to engage in more practical software development sessions and learn new techniques like test driven development and design patterns.