President William Ruto awards Charter to the open University of Kenya
The first virtual public university in Kenya was officially unveiled today by President William Ruto at Konza Technopolis. President Ruto said that the Open University of Kenya will enhance public university capacity and deliver a 100 percent transition to higher education.
This is in line with the Government’s commitment to enhancing access to affordable and quality education in the country. OUK is envisaged to be a unique university, breaking down boundaries and barriers to learning in all their forms. “It will also build a formidable stock of qualified and skilled graduates for our market and beyond,” said the President.
Speaking in Konza during the awarding of Charter to the Open University of Kenya. The Head of State said the University offers a chance for ordinary Kenyans to pursue professional training of their choice wherever they are. “This will endow enterprises with a sustainable capacity to be innovative and competitive,” he added.
President Ruto said his administration is keen on offering competitive and industry-driven education, aligned with the Government’s economic transformation agenda.
The Head of State was accompanied by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet Secretaries Davies Chirchir, Ezekiel Machogu, Alfred Mutua, Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior, MPs, among other leaders.
The university will offer seven flagship programmes that include five (5) degree and two (2) postgraduate diploma programmes. The first set of programmes to be offered to students from September this year include:
Bachelor of Data Science; Bachelor of Cyber security and Digital Forensics; Bachelor of Entrepreneurship and Business; Bachelor of Technology Education; Bachelor of Economics and Statistics; Postgraduate Diploma in Learning Design and Technology; and, Postgraduate Diploma in leadership and Accountability.
The President said the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) will incorporate the Open University of Kenya into its portal in time to enroll students for the academic year. Students placed via KUCCPS will benefit from government financial support through the new funding model.
E-learning has no boundaries, making the establishment of OUK as an e-learning institution an opportunity to serve the educational needs of those in the diaspora and attract international students. By offering borderless higher education, OUK aims to put Kenya in the league of nations that provide and export higher education across borders.