The President has award a Charter to the 42nd public university – Open University of Kenya (OUK).
This will be a monumental milestone as the move underscores the essence of op
en and E-learning in enhancing access to higher education.
There is flexible access to quality and relevant programmes that are also cost-effective.
Foremost, OUK will admit its maiden cohort of students to its virtual programmes in September 2023.
The pioneer programmes will be 6 bachelor programmes, which include: Bachelor of Cyber Security and Digital Forensics, Bachelor of Data Science, Bachelor of Education Technology, Bachelor of Science in Business and Entrepreneurship, Bachelor of Economics and Statistics, and Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Food Systems.
Again, there will be 2 post-graduate diplomas, which include: Leadership and Accountability and Learning Design and Technology.
Somewhat, OUK will nurture talents and hone skills.
It will shape graduates in a holistic manner. It will churn out graduates who are innovative and practical people.
OUK will integrate modern technology in order to deliver quality academic programmes and research.
Ideally, it will break down geographical, economic, and social barriers, which have excluded some students when it comes to access of tertiary education.
OUK is an online university established to be ‘The innovative university for inclusive prosperity.’ The physical location of this extra-ordinary university will be Konza Technopolis, Africa’s Silicon Savannah.
Then, it will be a button away on the computer, laptop or smart phone. It will be easily accessible from anywhere in the country, and in the comfort of learners’ homes.
It is at the heart of the present and the future of the country in everything digital. It will be a great leaver for harnessing dividends of the digital economy.
As well as the 4th Industrial Revolution.
In a colossal sense, the significance of online learning has gained prominence in these times and climes. It avails infinite spectra for life-long learning and the capacity to draw on digital technology to reach to the marginalized communities, and the working class in Kenya, and beyond.
In March 2023, the invasion of Covid-19 pandemic taught us the integral role of online learning.
There was the paralysis of education system. In the bid to sustain learning on online platforms by teachers with dearth of digital skills, the mandarins at the Ministry of Education conjured up with knee-jerk reactions.
In September 2022, when Dr. William Ruto came up with the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER), key among its terms of reference on tertiary education was to recommend a fine framework of operationalising the National Open University of Kenya.
Then the fabulous framework on Open, Distance and E-learning (ODEL). Students who have had trouble in accessing tertiary education plus the ones that failed to attain the cut-off points to enroll in universities courses of their choice will have crucial chance to upgrade and climb the lofty ladder of academics.
The writer rolls out career talks and training services as part and parcel of Penman Programmes. vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232.
By Victor Ochieng’
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