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ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – June 24, 2025 – A fourth-year York University student, Nahom Worku, has received international recognition at Apple’s esteemed Swift Student Challenge for his innovative educational application, Access Ed. The app, designed to bridge the digital divide for students in areas with unreliable internet, earned Worku a meeting with Apple CEO Tim Cook at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference in Cupertino, California.
The inspiration for Access Ed is deeply personal, stemming from Worku’s own experiences growing up in Ethiopia, where he witnessed firsthand how inconsistent internet access could create significant barriers to learning. In response, he developed an application that stores all user data and learning materials locally on a device, making it fully functional without a Wi-Fi or cellular connection.
“Access Ed was born from a desire to see equitable access to educational tools for everyone, regardless of their connectivity,” Worku explained. His innovative approach solves a critical problem for students in underserved communities globally.
The application boasts several advanced features, including a personalized onboarding process where students can input their academic background and interests. Using machine learning, Access Ed then recommends suitable courses. A standout feature allows students to take a picture of their written notes, which the app then uses to automatically generate digital flashcards, streamlining the study process.
Currently studying computer engineering, Worku’s path to becoming an award-winning developer began during the pandemic when he taught himself to code. His burgeoning talent was further honed during a recent internship as an iOS developer at CIBC.
During his presentation at Apple Park, Worku was one of only a handful of students selected to speak directly with Tim Cook, who praised the ingenuity of the app. The recognition from one of the tech world’s most influential figures highlights the significance of Worku’s achievement and the potential for Access Ed to make a lasting impact on education worldwide.
