MAIN TOPICS

1. UNIVERSITY ROLES IN MEETING ASPIRATIONS FOR ICT & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTPRESENTATION BY:PROF. OLIVE M. MUGENDAPh.DVICE-CHANCELLORKENYATTA UNIVERSITY19-21st November,2006

2. MAIN TOPICS • Characteristics of ICT • ICT for Education- Applications of ICT • ICT initiatives in Kenyatta University • Main Challenges 2

3. 1) Unique Characteristics of ICT • ICT is pervasive and cross-cutting • From personal use to business and Govt. • Can be tailored to meet personal, local, diverse needs. • ICT creates networks • Those connected benefit from the network • The Network externalities increases as it grows 3

4. ICT disseminates information and knowledge • Separates content from its physical location • Makes knowledge available to remote communities • ICT allows for zero or declining marginal costs • Replication of content is free • Distribution of marginal cost is near zero • ICT reduces transaction costs Characteristics cont’ 4

5. Characteristics cont’ • ICT enhances efficiency • Has power to store, retrieve, sorts, filter and distribute information  • Makes processes and transactions leaner and more effective • ICT reduces the need for intermediaries • Links consumers directly to producers • Allows users to acquire products and services directly 5

6. Characteristics cont’ • ICT is global • Transcends cultural and linguistic barriers • Allows local communities to be part of the global network Summary • These characteristics suggest that ICT can be a powerful enabler of development 6

7. 2) ICT for Education Applications of ICT • Distance Education • Affordability and geography have been barriers to access • ICT has enhanced the quality of distance education • Six largest Distance Learning Universities are located in developing countries: Turkey, Indonesia, China, India, Thailand and Korea • Distance Education facilitated by ICT has mainly been applied to tertiary education • ICT has enabled cross-border education 7

8. Applications cont’ • Scientific Research • Development of networks over the internet empowers indigenous research & development (R&D) in developing countries • Existence of virtual research groups allows databases and information to be shared • ICT enhances North-South and South-South collaborations 8

9. Technical and vocational training • ICT is being employed to train workers in many functional areas e.g Health care,IT services, teachers Applications cont’ • Education Administration • Enhances day-to-day management of institutions • Timetabling • Student admission &Tracking • Financial Management • Medical services • Procurement & store management • Data distribution & management 9

10. 3) ICT INITIATIVES IN KENYATTA UNIVERSITY • Open Learning • Before 2003 Kenyatta University offered residential programmes only • In 2003 an Open Learning programme was launched • Eight Regional Centres were established • The Learning Management System (Blackboard) was procured to facilitate e-learning • Open Learning Centres have access to internet • Open learning programme has enhanced access to university education 10

11. ICT Initiatives cont’ • Virtual Learning • Kenyatta University is a member institution of the African Virtual University • Programmes are offered collaboratively between Kenyatta University and other universities,e.g. Curtin University,Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology • Courses are delivered through chat rooms, email, bulletin boards, tele & video conferencing • Kenyatta University’s AVU is well equipped: internet connected computer rooms, video and tele conferencing halls, VSAT etc 11

12. ICT Initiatives cont’ • University Management • Kenyatta University recently recognized the need to make key administrative and management activities more efficient • With financial support from Rockefeller Foundation,the following areas are being computerized: • Student admission &Tracking • Financial Management • Medical services • Data management • Networking 12

13. ICT Initiatives cont’ • Other initiatives • University Strategic and Vision Plan • Plan Targets a computerization programme that will support all the activities of the University • University ICT policy • ICT policy acts as framework for ICT initiative in the University • Operates under the umbrella of national ICT policy 13

14. Increased Bandwidth • For e-learning to be effectively used, there is need for increased bandwidth of internet access • Bandwidth has been increased from 1mbps to 2mbps this year • This has enhanced up loading of e-learning course materials and faster downloading ICT Initiatives cont’ 14

15. ICT Initiatives cont’ • Increased number of computers • Kenyatta University currently has 1,787 computers • The projection is to have over 2,772 by 2008 • Laptops to be provided soon to members of senate to facilitate e-senate meetings • ICT training for staff and students • Training to target all students and teaching and non-teaching staff whose work require computers 15

16. Building a University internetwork • Project for networking all the campuses developed • Proposed network will create an intranet to enhance information sharing within and outside the University • Project to reduce paper work and increase efficiency • Security of ICT • A unit to be established to deal with: • Data security • Data network security • Software development & Systems administration ICT Initiatives cont’ 16

17. 4) Challenges • Limited Infrastructure • Africa has only 2% of the global telephone network with over half of the lines in cities • In Africa, telephone density is less than 2 lines per 1,000 inhabitants, compared with: • 48 per 1,000 in Asia • 280 per 1,000 in America • 314 per 1,000 in Europe • 520 per 1,000 in high-income countries 17

18. Challenges Cont’ • Low speed & frequent breakdowns of servers • Sometimes it takes too long to download a single big document • Frequent internet interruptions • Frequent power interruptions 18

19. Inadequate ICT skills • A percentage of teaching staff do not have adequate ICT skills for teaching and research • Some staff unwilling to try out the technology • Inadequate technical support • Inadequate technical support in areas of installation, operation, and maintenance of technical equipment (including software), network administration, and network security. Challenges Cont’ 19

20. Challenges Cont’ • Prohibitive costs • ICTs require large capital investments • Universities in Africa generally have limited budgets • This leads to high student and staff computer ratio • Even where basic infrastructure has been provided by development partners, sustainability is still a problem 20

21. THANK YOU 21