School of Digital and Data Futures

The Research ICT Africa (RIA) School of Digital and Data Futures is a focused instrument for policy influence through structured learning. The School of Digital and Data Futures builds capacity and communicates research through teaching that translates RIA’s cutting-edge research on digital technologies, data governance, AI, and emerging technology policy into learning opportunities for policymakers, regulators, civil society actors, and other policy stakeholders across Africa. Beyond simple research dissemination, the school distinctly aims to deliver a pedagogical journey for participants, equipping them with both skills and knowledge to support their policy and research careers.

The School arises in response to most universities’ struggle to integrate policy developments into mainstream curricula quickly enough to meet demand from policy stakeholders. By offering agile, short-form offerings that transfer knowledge when policymakers need it, the school will provide evidence from live research projects before such knowledge becomes outdated, or conventional. The School organises its offerings informed by two core concepts:

Governance: Courses address the governance of digital technologies as an active, forward-looking process rather than reactive rule-making. This includes data governance, AI governance, digital competition policy, and inclusive digital economy frameworks.

Futurecasting: Policy influence requires the ability to anticipate technological shifts. The School equips participants with strategic foresight and scenario-planning tools to prepare for and shape technological futures.

Objectives

Addresses the urgent demand for policy knowledge and skills relating to rapidly emerging technologies
Equip African policymakers and practitioners with frontier digital policy expertise;
Build a network of aligned policy actors to advance evidence-based digital governance across the continent;
Enhance RIA’s collaboration and influence across government, academia, and civil society; and
Create a sustainable pipeline for translating research into real-world policy outcomes.