Mashavu Update: Three Successful On-going Pilots!

Since May 2011, the Mashavu Telemedicine System has conducted pilots in several locations in Kenya. The most recent pilot is in conjunction with the Nyeri County Diabetes Support Group (NCDSG). Members of the NCDSG collect BP, BMI, and blood sugar. They will be utilizing Mashavu database system to organize and report their previously unmonitored data.

HESE Licences Greenhouse Technology to Mavuuno Greenhouses

With the help of the Dickinson School of Law’s International Sustainable Development Projects Clinic, the Penn State student team licensed its greenhouse technology to a for-profit company, Mavuuno Greenhouses, in Summer 2012. Mavuuno has since begun mass manufacturing the greenhouses as “kits” and hired construction workers and engineers to build these for customers. During their remaining time in Kenya, the student team conducted workshops to train future Mavuuno employees on greenhouse construction and maintenance.

HSE on the Big Ten Network

Essential Design, Mashavu and WishVast – three ongoing HESE ventures in Kenya are featured in the pilot episode of Global Penn State on the Big Ten Network. "The programs featured in Kenya epitomize the integration of our tripartite mission of teaching, research and service, but in a global context. Penn State is committed to preparing students who would be actively engaged in tackling some of the global challenges of our time, " said Michael Adewumi, vice provost for Global Programs.

HESE wins National Award

HESE won the 2011 Outstanding Specialty Entrepreneurship Program Award from the U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE). The award recognizes an entrepreneurship program's development of an innovative, highly effective course or program for teaching entrepreneurship in a niche or specialty area. National judges evaluated each program’s written entry and formal presentation based on its innovativeness, quality and effectiveness, completeness and comprehensiveness, sustainability and transferability to other universities.

HESE students explore The Secret Life of Public Spaces

With an open mind, creativity and passion, collaboration knows no limit. Megan Ruffe, Rachel Suffian, Jai Narayanan & Bridget Dougher from the Social Entrepreneurship class are collaborating with students from dance, landscape architecture, architecture & engineering to bring a new sense of awareness to public spaces. The HESE team is exploring augmented reality systems to provide immersive educational experiences in informal settings. The project is funded by a $200,000 Creative Campus Innovations Grant.