On Wednesday 18^th November 2015, Strathmore University, through @iLabAfrica Research Centre, signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – UNHCR and its tertiary education partner Windle Trust Kenya. This joint venture aims at adopting entrenching technology to deliver educational opportunities to refugees in Dadaab and Kakuma camps.

 

In the past, @iLabAfrica department has been heavily involved in education projects, more so in leveraging on the use of ICTs to revolutionise delivery of education content to students at different levels of study. A similar approach will be taken to conduct an inaugural training on basic ICT skills to teachers and students in some selected schools in Kakuma and Dadaab camps using the train the trainer model. The goal of this is to reach a vast majority of refugees in a short time. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) training will commence in January 2016 and will be delivered entirely online by the School of Accountancy (SOA).

 

@iLabAfrica will develop and pilot interactive online distance learning content for secondary and tertiary education and eventually develop a teacher training programme for the refugees with the aim of improving quality of education in the camps.

 

“We are happy to get into this tertiary education partnership with Strathmore University. It will create essential new tertiary education options for refugees in Kakuma and Dadaab.” Raouf Mazou, UNHCR Country Representative.

 

“This collaboration will widen access of tertiary education to refugees in Kenya”, Mr. Marangu, Windle Trust Kenya.

 

@iLabAfrica Director, Dr. Joseph Sevilla said that technology has the potential to revolutionize how education is delivered, and that people no longer need to travel long distances daily to receive education because technology can deliver it right where the learner is. @iLabAfrica believes courses such as CPA and basic ICT skills will be beneficial to all and that on completion of the courses, students will be able to enter gainful employment and be able to repatriate back to their home countries to build their economies.