UKZN Computer Science Honours Students Shine

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The exceptional achievement of two outstanding Computer Science Honours students, Mr Kival Mahadew and Mr Dylan Govender, is being celebrated within the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science.

Mahadew and Govender, representing the University of KwaZulu-Natal with their teammate, Mr Akshay Maharaj from the University of Cape Town, were among the eight finalists of the prestigious AI-for-Impact Hackathon hosted by Africa 2 Silicon Valley (A2SV) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

This is a remarkable achievement, considering the event attracted nearly 5 000 registrations from students across 1 000+ universities and high schools in 48 African countries.

The multi-stage Hackathon involved participating in workshops and developing an AI-focused application with societal impact. Throughout their journey, the group was guided by an internationally renowned mentor. They participated in the quarter-finals and won a place in the semi-finals that was contested by the top 32 projects. The group then won a place amongst just eight teams to contest the finals at the event in Ethiopia.

Their project, LangGuin, is an AI-powered pronunciation correction tool aimed to transform language learning, a blend of technical excellence and innovation combined with social relevance.

The hackathon was not only about competition. The team had the unique opportunity to pitch their idea to technology experts and business professionals, gaining valuable insights and feedback. They also engaged with global leaders like Google and Palantir, interacted with investors, and presented their work to a national audience.

The Dean and Head of the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, Professor Serestina Viriri, praised their accomplishment: ‘Kival, Dylan and Akshay represent a fine example of the talent, creativity, and technical excellence we cultivate within our School and at our Institution. Their project, LangGuin, harnesses AI technology to serve a broader social purpose within the African continent and embodies our aspiration to produce research for social impact.’

Academic Leader for Computer Science, Dr Edgar Jembere, further shared: ‘These students have led by example and demonstrated the immense potential of using technology to solve real-world problems. Their innovative approach, technical expertise and determination are characteristics we strive to foster amongst our students at UKZN. I am highly optimistic about the future advancements these young innovators will contribute to advancing the discipline and society in general.’

Words: NdabaOnline

Photograph: Supplied