HP South Africa has announced the 2009 winners of the Innovation in Education Grant Initiative. This initiative rewards secondary schools and universities for their inventive teaching and learning projects.

Out of the 150 global recipients of the award, six winners came from South Africa. These six were chosen by HP South Africa, in conjunction with the Department of Education on the basis of which academic institution provided the best integrated technology to foster innovation in education.

The six winners are:

• Bokamoso Science & Technology Education Centre (BOSTEC) in Polokwane for its creation of a science centre based in the rural community of Limpopo Province

• Esayidi FET Public College in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal for its Technologically Expanding Bridges of Opportunity project

• Mnambithi FET College in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal for its project to introduce tablet PCs to the local community

• Osizweni Education & Development Centre in Secunda, Mpumalanga for its HP Interactive Digital Classroom project

• University of Fort Hare, Alice (2009 - Higher Ed) for its Academic Support for Science, Engineering, Technology project (FOSST Discovery Centre, University of Fort Hare)

• And the University of the Western Cape in Bellville for its Undergraduate Research Training in Computer Sciences 

They’ve each won mobile technology solutions, including tablet PCs, laptops, printers as well as a cash donation to the total value of  $100,000 (about R743 000). All 150 global winners will also be invited to attend the global HP Innovation in Education Worldwide Summit in February 2010.