"When my career took a turn towards data protection, I was looking for professional development programs and I chanced upon the Data Privacy and Technology course. I hoped that the course would ground my understanding of the field. A year or so later, I realized that in order to truly appreciate the data lifecycle and the risks to personal data, I needed to enroll into a data science course."

"At the time I enrolled for the Data Privacy course, I believe that I was the only one from the African continent. It certainly opened doors for me in the sector and enhanced my knowledge."

"The course is especially relevant for anyone who is venturing into a career path centred around data privacy and technology. I also appreciate the interplay between privacy and technology because I got to see just how crucial it is to guard against the innovation of technology that is non-compliant with data privacy laws."

"Data Science informs decision making globally and as technology continues to pervade societies, we will continue to rely on algorithmic decisions. Therefore, it is important to understand the basics of data science and be mindful of underlying ethical concerns. This course has successfully done this especially through peer engagement, and case studies. Additionally, the course instructor succeeded at simplifying complex and technical matters for anyone without a background in the field. But even more important, the course evokes critical thinking."

"Over the past few years, I have been working diligently as a software engineer, continuously expanding my skillset. I decided to further advance my career by enrolling in Data Science Principles, which has provided me with a strong foundation in this exciting and rapidly evolving field. This academic training has significantly enhanced my ability to make informed decisions when tackling complex problems."

"The course was informative on both current and future Data Privacy and technological innovation trends – the need for Data Privacy without inhibiting innovation. The team and instructors prompt critical thinking while broadening the understanding of Data Privacy beyond the frontiers. At the end of the course, I concluded that there was a need for a mass cultural shift towards ethical use of technology."

"Uzawi Initiative Ltd is a non profit organization based in Uganda. It aims to sensitize citizens, advocate for policy and conduct research in AI, society and democracy. Its focus areas are on: (1) pervasive surveillance and a shrinking civic space (2) Social media and information integrity (3) AI and exploitation of resources (4) Big Tech dominance, State Sovereignty and digital colonialism.

Both courses have enriched my research in data protection and broadened my understanding of the data lifecycle and ultimately the underlying risks in AI systems. One of the foundational moments was the session by Rebecca Skloot during the Data Privacy and Technology course. I was so inspired that I read her book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. It is in her book that I was further inspired by Elie Wiesel’s quote, 'We must not see any person as an abstraction. Instead, we must see in every person a universe with its own secrets, with its own treasures, with its own sources of anguish, and with some measure of triumph.' In many ways this quote has informed my approach to my research which aspires to ensure that technological innovations do not undermine the human being, especially in Africa."