MMUST Researchers Visit Spain as the University Prepares to Host World Conference on Digital Inclusion for Neurodiversity

Courtesy of the AAN-DI project and the recent visit by researchers from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology to the University of Valencia in Spain, MMUST has been selected to host the first-ever conference in Africa on Neurodiversity inclusion. The Conference, slated for May, 2027, will focus on advancing lifespan inclusion, therapeutic approaches, digital inclusion, and digital well-being for neurodivergent populations. It will provide an interdisciplinary platform to discuss recent trends, clinical insights and practical solutions to the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals at home, in the community, within educational settings and in the workplace. The decision to host the event in MMUST was arrived at during the ERASMUS plus Project-Digital Transformation for Neuro-Diversity Inclusion in Africa and Asia (AAN-DI) Workshop, held at the University of Valencia in Spain.
The MMUST delegation to this Workshop comprised; Dr. Edward Okaya Khasakhala (MMUST project Principal Investigator), Prof. Kennedy Bota (co-PI), Dr. Josephine Nyamwange (Project Coordinator), Prof. Peter Odera (Senior researcher of the project) and Ms. Alice Katunzi (Masters student in the area of Neurodiversity). The AAN-DI consortium is composed of MMUST and Great Lakes University of Kisumu from Kenya; Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and University of Kashmir from India. Partner countries are Jyväskylän Yliopisto (JYU) Finland and Universitat de València Spain.

Workshop participants during the closing ceremony.
The ten-day intensive Workshop was graced by Prof. Susannah Otieno Leppänen and Prof. Paavo Leppänen (Project Directors from Finland), as well as Prof. Ladislao Salmerón (Project PI-University of Valencia). It involved research workshop presentations from the project staff and students. Participants were trained by top notch scientists, educators and researchers drawn from Europe. The training was quite relevant to MMUST Masters in Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience in Learning Dynamics Curriculum that is poised for implementation.
The topics covered during the training were; Digital Literacy and Learning Research methods: Evidence and practice; Digital competencies and Inclusive Pedagogy; Brain Training games (Theory and practical ); Enhancing Digital literacy and learning with scenario based Learning and Assessment; Introduction to eye tracking for beginners (Theory and practical); Eye tracking methods- Advanced (Theory and practical); Adapting text to Easy reading; Introduction to electroencephalogram (EEG) (Theory and practical); Single case research for Education and Psychology (Design and Analysis); Reading in Digital Age-Cognitive processes, source Evaluation and learning from multiple documents; Journal publication with Focus on peer review and manuscript revision process; and Introduction to Virtual Realities (VR) in Mental health (Theory and Practical).

Prof Odera, Dr. Nyamwange, Prof. Bota and Dr. Khasakhala undertake a study of electrical activity of the brain using electroencephalography (EEG) machine.
Participants had a chance to participate in Research mentoring and networking with Europe renowned researchers such as Prof. Paavo Leppänen Director inter-learn centre of excellence in Cognitive neuroscience; Prof. Jimmy Leppink a specialist in single case research; Prof. Luis Tapia, a specialist in brain games; Dr. Nardina Gomez eye tracking specialist; and Reading experts Prof. Ladislao Salmerón, Prof. Sussannah Leppänen and Inma Farjado. Others included virtual Reality expert Dr. Marja Wrzesten and EEG GURU Prof. Maro Romero among others. Participants were also involved in social events which included a visit to Valencia old town, a visit to the beach, a boat ride in a lake and dinner Gala, all organized by the University of Valencia.

 Participants during an eye tracking session.

Left: Participants during the Albufera boat ride. Right: Participant’s visits to old town Valencia
All eyes of AAN-DI consortium and the international community are now focused on Kenya and particularly MMUST as it prepares to host the first ever conference in Africa on Neurodiversity inclusion. Clearly, the University is embedding an impressive imprint on the global brain research space and AAN-DI is pointing us in the right direction.

By Dr. Lydia Anyonje and Wangari Wambugu