Game of Learners: Microsoft invites applications as coding competition returns for Season 4

The Microsoft Africa Development Centre (ADC) has invited university students from across Kenya and some parts of Africa can to apply for season 4 of the Game of Learners (GOL) competition.

The GOL initiative is organised as a hackathon. A hackathon, sometimes referred to as codefest, is an event where people engage in rapid and collaborative engineering over a short period of time.

This year's competition seeks to guide learners in developing possible tech solutions for the health sector.

It is being implemented in partnership with Population Services International (PSI) and AMREF Health Africa to 

Microsoft says participants will be working to develop possible technology solutions that can address different health challenges, including how to improve healthcare service provision in their localities or other parts of the world.

The program runs as a 5-week hackathon with teams captained by Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors crafting the innovations while receiving technical training from Microsoft’s professionals.

“This year’s theme will allow the participants to plug into an area that has enormous potential to impact lives across the continent and indeed around the world,” Ruth Ferland the Senior Program Manager at ADC and the founder of the Game of Learners Program, said.

The students will benefit from the instruction of 32 coaches and more than 20 advisers who will guide them through the process of learning new technologies and building their solutions.

The coaches, mentors, judges, speakers, and trainers will consist of volunteers from Microsoft and partners, who for season 4 will include PSI and AMREF Health Africa.

At the end of the season, the winning team will be eligible for awards, including collaboration with GOL Season 4 partners to advance their solution and entry into the Microsoft Imagine Cup, where they will present their innovation on a global stage.

Designed like a sports league, each 5-week season of Game of Learners is followed by a month-long season of GOL Clinic and GOL exhibitions to accord individuals seeking deeper hands-on technical experience and specialised training from Microsoft and GOL partners.