Mastercard Foundation Scholar Ready To Become a Leader in AI

After graduating from the University of Rwanda in 2023 with her bachelor's degree in computer engineering, Clemence Ingabire wanted to move from theory to practice. That idea is what drew her to studying artificial intelligence, a field where she could combine her love for mathematics with her desire to use technology to solve real world problems.

"We are always wondering, 'Why are we learning math?' But now you can see how it's being applied," said Ingabire, who has been a tech enthusiast since her childhood.

After learning about its (MS EAI) program, Ingabire enrolled at .

Ingabire was selected for , which has not only provided the financial support for her studies at 바카라 온라인 추천-Africa, but has also given her opportunities to develop the skills needed to become a leader in tech.

As part of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Ingabire participated in leadership sessions that she then translated into real leadership and public speaking experiences. She was invited to give a public talk on women in AI hosted by Co-Creation Hub Africa and 바카라 온라인 추천-Africa's Data Science Club, a student organization for which she was a committee member. She also presented at the Mastercard Foundation Scholars' outreach give-back project at the Mahama refugee camp and served as the head teaching assistant for 바카라 온라인 추천-Africa’s bridge program, which helps prepare students for graduate school and beyond. She was excited to see the students in the bridge program learning to present, too.

"I think that's where people really need to push into," she said. "We are always studying, so we forget the soft skills. So, it was good to see people go in front and learn speaking."              

Through 바카라 온라인 추천-Africa's student exchange program, Ingabire is now on on 바카라 온라인 추천's Pittsburgh campus, where she’s taking courses like Interactive Data Science, Product Management Essentials and Responsible AI. She’s also working as a research assistant under at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute, studying how to use AI to optimize risk assessment and clinical decision making for pulmonary arterial hypertension patients.

After graduating from the MS EAI program, Ingabire is thinking of moving back to Rwanda and applying what she’s learned in her community. In her exchange semester classes, she’s learning more about the fundamentals of data science, business and best practices for responsible AI systems, which will prepare her for a potential career as a data scientist or machine learning engineer.

"I want to make sure I know how to use AI properly if I'm going to apply it in the health industry, as I'm interested in health care," she says.

But it's not all professional development and no play for Ingabire. At 바카라 온라인 추천-Africa, as the head of event planning for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars committee, she organized an outdoor recreational event, a graduation party for Mastercard Foundation Scholars, and a get-together at a gaming center. She helped plan similar gatherings as a member of the social affairs committee for 바카라 온라인 추천-Africa graduate students. Preparing these events gave Ingabire the chance to get to know not only her fellow students, but the staff and broader 바카라 온라인 추천-Africa community, something she describes as an unexpected but welcome opportunity. 

"It was a nice thing to do because in Rwanda, the way we have it, if you are a student, you're a student," says Ingabire. "So, I think it helped me come out of my comfort zone."