Professionals undergoing training to become trainers in drone operations have been encouraged to embrace the skills they are acquiring and set long-term objectives that will benefit society in this era of emerging technologies.
Assoc. Prof. Ignace Gatare, Principal of the College of Science and Technology made these remarks on October 10, 2024, while addressing 20 professionals participating in a 3 -week drones training at the African Centre of Excellence in Internet of Things.
The training is part of a MoU signed between the Government of Rwanda, through the Rwanda Development Board, and Auterion Ltd, a world’s leading tech company specialized in designing operating systems and software solutions for drones aimed at establishing a Drone Knowledge and Skills Hub at the University of Rwanda.
In his address, Assoc. Prof. Gatare urged trainees to think beyond merely flying drones and to consider how they can make a meaningful impact in society. “Think of the end at the beginning; how can we leverage drone technology to solve specific problems and contribute to the National Strategy for Transformation 2 (NST2)?” he said.
He added, “You will be the ones to start nurturing the entire value chain of the drone industry, and you must be agents of change.”
The training covers various topics, including flight planning, drone assembly, programming, and operational deployment.
Ms Ester Poli, one of the trainees, highlighted some skills they have already acquired, stating that the training will help improve the drone sector in Rwanda. “We conducted simulations using existing software to control flights, and we were able to simulate with our machines,” she said.
This training is one of two sessions expected to be delivered by Auterion Ltd. The establishment of the Drone Knowledge and Skills Hub aims to equip Rwandans with the necessary knowledge and skills for drone operations.
The Hub is set to be established at the College of Science and Technology within the African Centre of Excellence in Internet of Things, which offers related modules in its curriculum.
The trainees come from various stakeholder institutions that operate drones in Rwanda, including the University of Rwanda, Ministry of Defense, Zipline, Locus Dynamics, the Rwanda Space Agency, the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, and the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA).