Help Me Pursue an MS in Data Science at the University of Michigan-Dearborn — and Bring AI Education Back to Africa

My name is Yves Koko Mukuru, and I come from Bukavu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo — a region that has faced years of instability, conflict, and limited educational opportunities.

Despite these challenges, I refused to abandon my dream of using education and technology to create impact.

My academic journey led me from Congo to Ghana, where I pursued an MSc in Business Analytics at the University of Ghana. However, during my studies, the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo created severe financial instability for my family and myself.

There were periods when I could not afford accommodation or tuition fees. To remain enrolled, I negotiated payment arrangements with the university while spending nights in reading rooms and computer laboratories. Some days, I survived on only one meal.

Yet, I continued moving forward.

Despite these difficulties, I maintained strong academic performance, completed my thesis early, and continued teaching, conducting research, and mentoring students.

Today, I have been admitted to the MS in Data Science program at the University of Michigan-Dearborn — an opportunity that represents years of sacrifice, resilience, and determination.

This is more than a personal achievement.

It is an opportunity to acquire world-class expertise in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Data Science so that I can help strengthen technological education and innovation in Africa.

Over the years, I have dedicated myself to teaching, research, and applied data science.

Currently, I serve as a Teaching Assistant and researcher, where I teach courses including Data Mining, Statistics, Econometrics, and Research Methods. I have taught and mentored hundreds of students while helping improve student success and thesis completion rates.

My work also includes practical Machine Learning and AI projects such as customer churn prediction systems, banking performance forecasting models, loan default prediction applications, and Natural Language Processing projects for sentiment analysis and classification.

Beyond teaching, I have contributed to academic research in areas including Education, Climate change, Econometrics, Public policy, and predictive analytics.

These experiences strengthened my belief that Artificial Intelligence and Data Science can help solve real problems in African communities and institutions.

One of the greatest challenges facing many universities across parts of Central and East Africa is the shortage of qualified specialists in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Machine Learning.

Many institutions are trying to introduce modern technology programs, but they often lack adequately trained lecturers, researchers, and technical experts in these fields.

As a result: students may graduate without sufficient practical exposure, universities struggle to modernize their curricula, and institutions face difficulties building competitive research ecosystems in emerging technologies.

Having worked within academic institutions in my region, I have personally witnessed this challenge.

This is why my vision goes far beyond earning a degree.

After completing my studies at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, I plan to establish an Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Research & Training Center in Africa.

I strongly believe Africa's future depends on developing local expertise in emerging technologies.

By supporting my education, you are not only helping one student — you are investing in future educators, researchers, innovators, and institutions across Africa.

My MSc in Business Analytics gave me a strong foundation in applying analytics and machine learning to business and organizational challenges. However, as I advanced in research, teaching, and applied AI projects, I realized I needed deeper technical expertise in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, advanced Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and scalable data systems.

For me, pursuing an MS in Data Science is not repeating the same path — it is a strategic progression from applied analytics to advanced technical specialization.

This combination of business insight and technical depth is essential for my long-term vision of building an AI and Data Science Research & Training Center in Africa to help train students, lecturers, and young professionals in emerging technologies.

The University of Michigan-Dearborn generously awarded me a scholarship of $10,000 per year. However, the total cost of tuition, living expenses, health insurance, books, transportation, and academic-related expenses remains far beyond what I can personally afford.

My long-term vision is to help build stronger AI and Data Science ecosystems across Africa.

I believe that investing in education and technology today can create lasting opportunities for future generations.