A Visit with Global Impact: UPC welcomes Rsif Scholar Onelia Caribo
The Laboratory of Digital Models in Structures and Construction in Barcelona, Spain, welcomed Onelia Caribo, a PhD student from the University of Rwanda at ACEIoT, a scholar under the Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET)-Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif) programme.
Rsif is the flagship initiative of the PASET, an Africa-led effort supported by the World Bank. It offers a historic opportunity to train a new generation of PhD students in applied sciences, engineering, and technology at top African Host Universities (AHUs) in collaboration with international partner institutions. Beyond academic training, Rsif promotes research capacity by building partnerships between universities and companies to address local challenges.
During her stay this summer, Onelia Caribo explored the potential of digital twins for school laboratories in Mozambique and Rwanda. The project proposes cost-effective, open-source, a multi-lab perspective (biology, physics, chemistry), and multi-platform experiments, using sensors, computer vision, and mobile devices, within an open and creative framework. She also enriched her experience by participating in academic activities held at the Laboratory during her stay.
Together with Prof Rolando Chacón, they designed several experiments, explored their learning objectives, discussed how digital twins can enhance the learning process, and assessed their scalability. This radical openness approach showcases how digital twins can bridge the physical and digital worlds, enriching with accessible technologies, educational science practices in African high schools.