In the Department of Electrical Engineering led by Dr Richard Chidzonga, a transformative project—the Camp Comm App—was launched by Rogerant Tshibangu, lecturer in the department, and Sbongiseni Masondo, Lab Technician, also in the Electrical Engineering department, with the help of five enthusiastic MUT students. This initiative focuses on providing hands-on experience in APP development using Flutter and Firebase, software testing, and understanding business processes.
The collaborative spirit fostered by seed funding from TIA enabled the team to create more than just an App; it became a platform cultivating future tech innovators. The Camp Comm APP evolved into a robust institutional tool, securing substantial investment from TIA and being selected as the official event App for the 2024 WIPO Summer School. It facilitated interactive voting and updates at events and has become essential for students in selecting their academic streams.
With aspirations for growth, the team is currently seeking an additional R1.5 million in funding to enhance security and prepare for nationwide expansion. The App has over 1,000 active installs across multiple platforms, demonstrating significant engagement and low uninstall rates.
Camp Comm represents MUT’s commitment to digital transformation, providing a mobile platform that connects students and staff, reduces communication fragmentation, and consolidates essential updates into a user-friendly interface. Dr Chidzonga aptly notes, “It’s more than just an APP; it’s a living example of what MUT can build and scale.”