Addis Ababa, Aug 13 (ENA)--The U.S.-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is offering training to students of the Technology Faculty of the Addis Ababa University (AAU) in computer programming other related areas of learning, the Faculty said.

The summer training is being offered free of charge by student-instructors drawn from the MIT-Africa Internet Technology Initiative (MIT-AITI).

Faculty Dean, Dr. Abebe Dinku said on Wednesday that seven trainers from the MIT-AITI are conducting the training to 140 students of engineering of the AAU. The training is a six-week program.

The training is believed to help enhance the various courses offered by the faculty and introduce new innovations of the Information Technology (IT), Dr. Abebe said.

Trainers' representative, Nesrudin Abbas said the MIT-AITI has the objective of improving the process of teaching learning in the field in Africa.

AITI had conducted similar training programs in Kenya and Ghana, Nesrudin said, adding the courses offered are of huge importance, especially to students of engineering.

The trainers who are citizens of U.S.A., Kenya or Ethiopia are students of the MIT who show academic excellence, he indicated.

The MIT-AITI is an innovative program started by MIT students to integrate computers and Internet technology into the education of students in African schools.

"The program uses innovations such as cutting edge programming tools and free open-source systems to introduce students in Africa to the Internet, and equip them with skills that will allow them to be creative and resourceful," according to a document by MIT-AITI.

The MIT-AITI vision for the summer of 2004 program is to pursue and develop its programs already established in the three countries, Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, by utilizing the lessons learned in the previous years and solve the problems that have been encountered before, MIT-AITI President, Solomon Assefa said.

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