Wednesday, 4 October 2023 Strengthening cooperation the Stellenbosch University in South Africa

Assoc. Prof. Matjaž Kljun and Assoc. Prof. Klen Čopič Pucihar, researchers from UP FAMNIT and UP IAM from (Department of Information Sciences and Technologies), visited the Department of Information Science of Stellebonch University in South Africa as part of the Erasmus+ project KA 171. It is a mobility program with partner countries or the so-called third countries not included in the programme.

Stellenboch University is a world-renowned university with which UP FAMNIT has established cooperation in the field of computer science and information technologies, and in the future we will strengthen cooperation with international exchanges of students and employees.

Our researchers were hosted by Prof. Dr. Daniel Le Roux, Head of the Cognition and Technology Research Group at the hosting university. He had visited UP FAMNIT in July and gave our students a lecture on media ecology, which is characterized by the omnipresence of mobile computing devices that offer a rapidly expanding range of gratifying online experiences.

At the Stellenbosch University, our researchers carried out seminars focused on recent advances in human-computer interaction through materials, the use of generative AI to support language learning in mixed reality environments and recent advances in physiological sensing.

»In the long run the expected result is a joint publication in a top tier journal and/or conference. If possible the publication will be also co-authored by a junior researcher or a student. The seminars should enable students to gain a deeper understanding of how technology can be used to enhance human ability, such as memory. They will get first hand experience on how mixed reality technology can be used effectively in this respect and how other technologies, such as generative AI can be integrated into this process. Finally the visit will enrich host and visiting students and researchers knowledge of key methodologies in HCI domain that can lead to higher quality of conducted research,« added Assoc. Prof. Kljun and Assoc. Prof. Čopič Pucihar.