The Smart City Higher Education Advancement Program in East Africa (SHAPE) is an Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education initiative designed to address the growing shortage of smart city skills across East Africa, particularly in Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda. Rapid urbanization in the region has created increasing demand for professionals capable of planning, designing, and managing smart, sustainable, and inclusive cities. However, higher education institutions currently lack specialized curricula, qualified academic staff, practical training facilities, and strong collaboration with industry and public institutions.
SHAPE responds to these challenges by modernizing higher education through innovative curricula, academic capacity building, digital learning, research collaboration, and open innovation. The project combines the technical expertise of European universities with the contextual knowledge of East African institutions to develop educational programmes that reflect the realities and priorities of African cities rather than replicating models developed elsewhere.
The project will introduce new Master's level courses and micro-credentials covering key smart city domains, including Artificial Intelligence, Open Data, Smart Mobility, Smart Energy, Smart Health, Community Engagement, and Sustainable Urban Development. Academic staff will receive specialized training, while universities will establish Open Innovation Labs to promote entrepreneurship, applied research, hackathons, and collaboration with industry and government.
Beyond curriculum development, SHAPE aims to create lasting partnerships between universities, municipalities, industry, civil society, and policymakers through a new EU–East Africa Smart Cities Alliance. By strengthening higher education institutions and producing highly skilled graduates, the project contributes to sustainable economic growth, digital transformation, and resilient urban development throughout East Africa. The initiative also aligns closely with the EU Global Gateway Strategy, supporting digital innovation, green transition, sustainable transport, and inclusive governance across Sub-Saharan Africa.
To strengthen higher education institutions in East Africa by developing innovative academic programmes, practical innovation ecosystems, and skilled graduates capable of designing, implementing, and sustaining smart, inclusive, and sustainable cities across Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda.
To modernize higher education through innovative curricula, digital technologies, industry collaboration, and capacity building that empower universities to produce professionals with the knowledge, skills, and leadership needed to drive sustainable smart city development in East Africa.
SHAPE's curricula and Open Innovation Labs span twelve interconnected domains shaping the future of smart, sustainable cities.
SHAPE's impact reaches every part of the smart city ecosystem — from classrooms to city halls.
Smart City Higher Education Advancement Program in East Africa, funded by the EU through European Education and Culture Executive Agency EACEA
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
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