The University of Witwatersrand in South Africa is currently hosting a Student App Challenge at its new Digital Innovation Zone (DIZ) in Braamfontein in a bid to encourage the creation of student-relative apps.
The Student App Challenge is part of a month-long campaign dubbed DIZSpark and aimed to attract a diverse participation, with Wits students and non-students invited.
It began last weekend and continues tomorrow, with participants required to create new apps to add to the existing suite – WitsM.
“Many Universities now have apps to support some aspects of student life. Students have apps to check marks, timetables and fee accounts. There are apps to check bus schedules and read campus news. Wits University has just launched WitsM – a set of mobile Apps to provide all of these functions and a few more,” said Prof Barry Dwolatzky, director of JCSE at Wits University and founder of the Tshimologong Precinct.
“But what’s missing? What Student apps would students like to have? The Student App Challenge is an opportunity for students (and their friends) to come up with ideas for innovative and exciting apps. I’ve always believed that Joburg has the smartest and brightest young minds. Now is the time to prove it!”
The new apps will not only be restricted to WitsM, with participants able to re-use their apps in other tertiary institutions and different app stores.
