The School of Computational and Communication Sciences and Engineering (CoCSE)

Message from Dean

Welcome to the School of Computational and Communication Science and Engineering (CoCSE). The school is dedicated to building knowledge and skills in mathematical and computational modeling, electronics and telecommunications topics including the design, integration and management of embedded systems and next-generation networks, and in cutting-edge computing topics such as artificial intelligence, Internet-of-things and cyber security.

The school values research excellence and innovation, as we believe these are key components needed to creating technological products that can boost industrial productivity and lower the societal challenges faced in Tanzania and Sub-Saharan Africa in general. We therefore encourage students to develop and exhibit working prototypes and to publish in indexed journals, international conference proceedings and get patents for the innovate products. It is almost 11 years since establishment, our students have exhibited over 30 prototypes nationally, and could win some research funding from the Commission for Science and Technology in Tanzania (COSTECH), one of the largest research funding body in Tanzania. We have also won the privilege of hosting the centre for high performance computing (CHPC), a joint initiative between the Indian and Tanzanian governments. The CHPC has a supercomputer with computing power of 14 Tera flops and is the only supercomputer of its calibre at a higher learning institution in Tanzania. Also recently following the successfully winning of a competitive grant bid among High Learning Institutions in East Africa, the school hosts the Centre of Excellence for ICT in East Africa (CENIT@EA). The CENIT@EA is established by a consortium of institutions, including University of Oldenburg, German Aerospace Centre, University of Dar Es Salaam (UDSM), University of Technology and Arts Byumba, Mannheim University of Applied Sciences and HTW University of Applied Sciences in Berlin, from which the Centre integrates international academic and professional experts as teaching staff.

The school offers five (5) Master’s degree programmes and 2 PhD programmes. The faculty at our school have been trained in diverse countries including Slovakia, the UK, the USA, Russia, Germany, India, China and Japan. Our students’ body also has an appreciable number of international students. Altogether, the multinational perspectives brought to the lectures and research progress seminars allow us to broaden our perspectives and pursue ever more challenging and creative research opportunities. Whether you are interested in preparing for a career in academic or industrial research or in engineering and ICT management, our school will provide an excellent education in an excellent environment.

With warmest regards,

Dr. Mussa Ally Dida, Dean of the School of CoCSE

School of Computational and Communication Science and Engineering (CoCSE) currently has the following degree programmes, namely:

Master's degree programmes

Master’s in Mathematical and Computer Science and Engineering (MCSE)
Master’s in Information and Communication Science and Engineering (ICSE)
Master of Science in Embedded and Mobile System (EMoS)
Masters of Wireless and Mobile Computing (WiMC)
Masters of Information System and Network Security (ISNS)

PhD degree programmes

PhD in Mathematical and Computer Science and Engineering (MCSE)
PhD in Information and Communication Science and Engineering (ICSE)

The school of CoCSE has five research groups

1. E-systems development, management and interoperability

This research group is concerned with developing electronic systems for improving access to governmental and social services and improving livelihoods. The e-systems in focus such as government, e-health and e-agriculture systems. Past research under this theme has included developing a sensor-based method for water monitoring in smallholder, irrigated farms in Tanzania and developing a mobile app for enhancing of HIV/AIDS information delivery in Tanzania.

2. Wireless and communication systems

Wireless communication systems have accelerated the pace of development across Africa, primarily through the adoption of mobile communications, and they remain the cornerstone for rapid and widespread deployment of various ICTs in the continent. The wireless and communication systems research group focuses on the design, analysis, simulation and implementation of wireless communication systems and applications in the African context. Topics of interest include designing energy-efficient wireless sensor networks, integrating sensor networks with the internet, measurement and control of communication systems and development of applications for 3G, 4G and next generation telecommunication technologies. Examples of past research under this theme include the design of a decentralised, two-way, electricity monitoring system for solar mini-grids and development of integrated sensor networks for agro-meteorological data collection.

3. Information systems security

The globally exponential growth in the number of networked devices such as smart phones, internet-connected smart devices and even autonomous cars, have made the privacy and security of personal user data a major concern. In the past, security was mainly a software issue, but IoT devices, which rely on firmware, have increased the scope of privacy and security to include hardware as well. The primary objective of this research group is to serve as a hub for teaching, research and consultancy services on a diverse range of topics such as theoretical underpinnings of cryptography and firmware design to vulnerability assessment, ethical hacking, intrusion detection and cyber forensics. The group is especially concerned with addressing security issues prevalent in the African context such as mobile applications and mobile communications security.

4. Mathematical modelling

In today's world of virtual research, "mathematical modelling" is the key word. The mathematical modelling group is interested in applying modelling techniques to a range of topics including biomathematics, financial mathematics and epidemiology.

5. Data analytics, machine learning and optimisation

This research group focuses on applying and optimising data mining and machine learning techniques in addressing challenges faced by local society. Researchers have applied machine learning to determine livestock farmer groups and their characteristics, identify plant diseases from images and predicting disease outbreaks. The group is also interested in developing smartphone applications for large scale data collection to support learning and analytics.

The school of CoCSE has 8 ongoing projects:

1. VLIR-UOS project on institutional strengthening through ICT and Information services

Objective

This project focuses on improving the NM-AIST’s research and education quality through the use of big data, open data and artificial intelligence and through the provision of e-resources to support self-learning. The activities involve purchasing equipment for the department of library services and the ICT Resource Centre (IRC) and School of Computational and Communication Science and Engineering (CoCSE). Training for IRC and Library, stakeholders on the uses of electronic resources, and industrial and professional visits as well as training of 1 PhD are also supported. The project also aims to improve NM-AIST’s societal impact through collaboration with the library and the VLIR P5 project for dissemination of research results

Members

Dr. Kisangiri Michael (Leader), Dr. Edith Luhanga (Deputy Leader and PhD co-supervisor), Mr. Lawrence Nehemiah Mdegela (Assistant Lecturer and PhD student)

Project Partners

Antwerp University, Universiteit Hasselt, Institute of Tropical Medicine

Website: https://vlir.nm-aist.ac.tz/

2. Centre of excellence for ICT in East Africa

Objective

CENIT@EA is a regional innovation hub that provides the skills for the digital transformation in East Africa. It builds on the following three pillars:

Needs-driven and applied master’s programme in Embedded and Mobile Systems (MSc EMoS)
Regional partnerships and dialogue between academia, the private and public sector to drive innovation in the EAC
Upskilling of ICT professionals, unemployed graduates and university staff to meet the needs of the digital transformation

Members

Dr. Kisangiri Michael (centre leader), Dr. Mussa Ally (deputy centre leader), Dr. Shubi Kaijage, Dr. Anael Sam, Dr. Dina Machuve, Dr. Kisangiri Michael (Leader)

Project Partners

Carl von Ossietzky Oldenburg University, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft und Raumfahrt, Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin, Hochschule Mannheim, University of Technology and Arts of Byumba, University of Dar es Salaam, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DaaD), Inter-University Council For East Africa (IUCEA), East African Community, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development

Website: https://cenit-ea.org/

3. Automated Poultry Diseases Diagnostics using Deep Learning

Objective

The project seeks to develop a poultry diseases diagnostics tool using deep learning for poultry farmers in Tanzania. The diagnostics tool is aimed at early detection of Coccidiosis, Salmonella and Newcastle disease virus from fecal samples. The project is funded by the Organization of Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) under the Early Career Fellowship Program. The project is ongoing until November, 2021. The ongoing activities include:

Generation of Training/Testing dataset
Diagnostics
Detection of pathogens in test images

Members

Dr. Dina Machuve

4. An extension support system for small holder farmers

Members

Dr. Dina Machuve, Ms. Theofrida Maginga

5. An agricultural solution system for Tanzania

Members

Dr. Mussa Ally Dida, Mr. Mdoe Mwamnyange

6. An electronic logistic and transport system

Members

Dr. Mussa Ally Dida, Mr. Stivin Aloyce Nchimba

7. Digital Farming

Members

Dr. Shubi Kaijage

8. Drowsiness Detection System

Members

Dr. Kisangiri Michael

SN	NAME	POSITION
1	Dr. Mussa Ally Dida	Senior Lecturer and Dean
2	Prof. Shubi Felix Kaijage	Associate Professor
3	Prof. Verdiana-Grace Masanja	Professor
4	Prof. Dmitry Kuznetsov	Associate Professor
5	Prof. Kisangiri F. Michael	Associate Professor
6	Prof. Anael Elikana Sam	Associate Professor
7	Dr. Edith Luhanga	Lecturer
8	Dr. Silas Mirau	Lecturer
9	Dr. Jema David Ndibwile	Lecturer
10	Dr. Judith Leo	Lecturer
11	Dr. Maranya Mayengo	Lecturer
12	Dr. Devotha Nyambo	Lecturer
13	Dr. Neema Mduma	Lecturer
14	Dr. Ramadhani Sinde	Lecturer
15	Dr. Elizabeth Mkoba	Lecturer
16	Mr. Lawrence Nehemiah Mdegela	Assistant Lecturer
17	Ms. Edwiga Renald	Assistant Lecturer
18	Mr. Sifa Baseka	Assistant Lecturer
19	Mr. Sanket Mohan Pandhare	Visit Staff

Adjunct Professors/Faculty
SN	NAME	AFFILIATION
1	Prof. Padmanabhan Seshaiyer	Professor of Math, George Mason University, USA
2	Prof. Livingstone S. Luboobi	Professor Applied Math, Strathmore University, Kenya
3	Prof. Lena Trojer	Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden Head- SIDA Project; CIRCLE (Centre for Innovation, Research and Competence in the Learning Economy), Lund University, P.O. Box 117, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
4	Prof. Dr. Thomas Clemen	Professor, Computer Sciences,Hamburg University of Applied, Germany
5	Prof. Karen Bradshaw	Professor, Computer Science; Rhodes University, South Africa
7	Dr. Ciira wa Maina	Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Nyeri, Kenya
8	Dr Mvurya Mgala	Technical University of Mombasa, Kenya.Chairman Research committe
9	Prof. Pirkko Anneli Nykänen	Professor Emerita, Tampere University,Finland
10	Prof. Jesuk Ko	Visiting Professor at Higher University of San Andrés (UMSA), Bolivia. Full Professor at Gwangju University, Korea (From March 1998 ~ June 2018)
10	Prof. Lazaro Busagala	Director General, Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission, Arusha, Tanzania.
10	Dr. Luzango Pangani Mfupe	Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR); South Africa
10	Prof. Anthony Vodacek	Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), USA.
10	Prof. Michel Tchuenche	Senior Health Specialist, Avenir Health, 1331 Pennsylvania Av NW. Washington DC.
10	Prof. Fokou´e, Ernest	Rochester Institute of Technology, USA
10	Prof. Matti Ilmari Heiliö	Project Coordinator, Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT
10	Prof. Jagdish Prakash	Department of Mechanical Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg
10	Prof. Matylda Jablo´nska-Sabuka	Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT

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