Student body president of computer science department is first in his family to attend university

Michael Ebongya Bayenge

During our trip to Congo in June 2024, we met the student body president of UPC's computer science department (Faculté des Sciences Informatiques, FASI), Michael Ebongya Bayenge.

He is in his 4th year at FASI and has been the recipient of an Education Congo tuition scholarship all four years. He is working on a class project that uses algorithms to analyze medical imagery. He is also in an internship program in his specialty area of cyber security and, like most FASI students, will be assured of employment in Kinshasa upon graduating.

Michael lost his father at an early age, but other relatives stepped in to help pay for his education prior to university. He now serves as inspiration to his younger brothers and sisters, who also hope to attend university.

Michael believes computer science will be integral to the transformation of his country and has ambitions in politics as well!

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