Dodoma: A University of Dodoma (UDOM) student, Caroline Lema, has developed a digital system that uses artificial intelligence tools to monitor the behavior of service providers in public and private institutions and detect possible examination malpractice.
The system uses facial recognition, fingerprint identification, video analytics, and behavioral tracking to assess how service providers interact with clients, including language use and time spent delivering services.
Lema, a fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Information Systems (BSc IS) student, said the innovation aims to improve service delivery standards in both government and private institutions by providing data-driven performance feedback.
Speaking during the ongoing Research and Innovation Week at UDOM, she said the system analyzes behavioral patterns to assess service efficiency without the service provider’s knowledge.
“The system collects and analyses behavioral data of a service provider to determine efficiency, the language used, whether it is appropriate or not, and the time spent serving clients,” she said.
Beyond service delivery monitoring, Lema said the system can also be applied in education settings to detect examination malpractice by tracking students’ movements, interactions, and gaze patterns during exams.
It can also identify individuals a candidate may have interacted with during examinations and verify student identity using facial recognition and fingerprint authentication, with the aim of strengthening academic integrity.
UDOM Deputy Vice-Chancellor responsible for Planning and Finance, Prof Jefta Sunzu, urged government institutions and the private sector to support student innovations, saying many young inventors lack funding and platforms to commercialize their ideas.
He said such innovations have the potential to improve productivity, service delivery, and governance if adequately supported.
“We have many young people producing research and innovations that can move the nation forward. I urge companies and institutions to support them by providing funding and opportunities to deploy their solutions,” he said.
Acting Director of Research, Publications, and Consultancy at UDOM, Prof Placidius Ndibalema, also called for stronger collaboration between academia, government, and the private sector to nurture young innovators and help scale up their technologies.