A community-based AI and data science practicum: enhancing health information science education in Tanzania’s healthcare

What is it about?

This study explored how teaching Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data science through a community-based, hands-on approach can improve digital health skills among university students in Tanzania. A short, practical course was designed for Health Information Science students that combined lectures, teamwork, and real Tanzanian health datasets. The results showed that students gained stronger knowledge, more positive attitudes, and better practical skills in applying AI to healthcare problems such as disease prediction and data management. The course was designed to work even in low-resource settings, using bilingual materials, offline tools, and local health challenges. This approach shows that meaningful AI education does not depend on expensive technology but on well-structured, locally relevant learning experiences. The findings can guide educators and policymakers who wish to introduce AI and data science training in similar contexts across Africa and other low-resource regions.

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