NAIROBI, Kenya, April 17 – The Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has reviewed its two bachelor courses to meet industry-relevant standards.
The revision of the Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Bachelor of Computer Technology was done in partnership with the Microsoft Africa Development Centre (ADC).
128 units under the above programs will be impacted and will come into effect for the September 2023 student intake.
“For Kenyans who choose to take up jobs outside the country and support their families or investments back home, it increases remittances, a crucial driver for foreign exchange,” Microsoft ADC Managing Director Catherine Muraga said.
“As the continent grows, we anticipate an increasing need for digital skills, especially among youth poised to design incredible solutions to some of the continent’s perennial challenges; this aligns with Kenya’s and Africa’s digital transformation agenda, which requires capacity building of the population for effective uptake of digital services and opportunities.”
The curriculum review is part of the ADC’s goal to provide learners with practical skills to be competitive in the global digital landscape.
Moreover, the reviewed curriculum will introduce new and innovative concepts, including applied machine learning, virtual reality, quantum computing, and user experience design, among others, to prepare students for the workplace.
As part of the national digitization agenda, the Kenyan government launched the Kenya National Digital Master Plan last year to grow the country’s digital ecosystem.
One critical pillar of the master plan is to improve the digital know-how of at least 10,000 ICT professionals.
“The review process has been extensive, with invaluable insights and recommendations from experienced industry experts that will add significant value to classroom instruction,” JKUAT Department of Computing Chairman Lawrence Nderu said.
“We look forward to providing our students with best-in-class education that integrates practical skills building and theoretical understanding as they prepare for success in the technology industry.”
Similarly, the initiatives will be implemented in other institutions of higher learning to bridge the gap between industry and academia, particularly in the technology sector.
“We believe that by partnering with educational institutions, from primary school to the university level, we can help create a future workforce equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a digital age,” Muraga said.
“We look forward to working with other institutions of higher learning to develop curricula that will improve the whole technology talent pipeline and grow the pool of tech talent in the country to benefit the whole ecosystem,” she added.
