USIU-Africa students win first place at the inaugural East Africa edition of the Future Leaders Challenge #AD

Students pursing Hotel and Restaurant Management degree program won first place at the inaugural East Africa edition of the Future Leaders Challenge (FLC) held on April 28-29 at Strathmore University.

Seeking to address the question of how digital transformation is reshaping workforce needs in East Africa, the event challenged top final-year students from universities across the region to develop innovative solutions to address how digital transformation can reshape workforce needs in the tourism sector.

The award winning ‘Agile’ solution by the team from USIU-Africa aims at digitizing and streamlining the hiring process in the hospitality sector, offering a tech-savvy response to workforce inefficiencies.

Coming in second, Strathmore University’s ‘Savannah Vision’, combines drones, electric vehicles, OB vans, and holographic projections to deliver immersive tourism experiences.

Technical University of Kenya won third place with ‘Bthere’, a mobile platform that connects tourists to local guides in real time, enhancing accessibility and authenticity in travel experiences. The winners from each regional edition will participate in the finals, which will be in Dubai.

Initiated by GameChangers Learning and Development and for the East Africa edition in Partnership with Strathmore University and Boma International Hospitality College, this two-day event was designed as a strategic platform to bridge academia, industry, and government.

It brought together students and stakeholders from Europe, the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and South Africa marking a milestone moment for the region’s hospitality and tourism sector.

Gracing the event was their Patron, Rebecca Miano, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife. Her attendance showcased the importance of nurturing youth-led innovation in the sector.

As she inspired participants through a reflection of her personal and professional journey, Miano emphasised the critical role young leaders play in shaping the region’s future.

“The youth are not just the future; they are the present. Their creativity, energy, and fresh perspectives are integral in driving sustainable tourism development in Kenya and across the region,” she stated.

One of the defining moments of the FLC East Africa was the first-ever School Directors Alliance (SDA) meeting, which brought together school directors, policymakers, and industry leaders from across East Africa.

The summit aimed at strengthening industry connections through promotion of exchange programs, streamlining of internship procedures, and identification of talent gaps to align with future workforce needs. This pioneering initiative marks a significant step in building educational ecosystems that evolve alongside the industries they serve.

Additionally, the consecutive dinners sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife of Kenya and Vision Linens and Accor Hotels, provided an opportunity for students, educators, government, and industry leaders to connect and engage in dialogue.

These dinners highlighted Kenya’s cultural hospitality as well as the Ministry’s and Vision Linens and Accor Hotels’ steadfast commitment to cultivating future professionals and leaders in tourism and hospitality industry. The program also featured workshops by leading industry partners such as Radisson Hotel Group, Hilton and Vision Linens and Accor Hotels, who equipped students with practical skills in personal branding, career growth, and job interview preparation.

This event provides these future leaders with a platform to share their innovative ideas on a global stage, helping drive a shared effort to build a more inclusive, innovative, future-forward hospitality and tourism industry.