Jump to first page An Education Network The Kenya Education Network Experience ( Opportunities, Challenges & Lessons Learned ) Victor Kyalo Dept. of Electrical Engineering, University of Nairobi KENET Coordinator

Jump to first page Agenda  Background  Overview  Opportunities  Challenges  Partnerships  Conclusions –Lessons learned

Jump to first page vk-05/2005 n The KENET initiative emanated from the Leyland initiative n Local model made up of public & private institutions n Trust formed in 2001 to oversee and steer the initiative’s operations: Members include: VC, UoN VC, Moi University VC, JKUAT VC, Daystar VC, USIU MD, Telkom Kenya DG, CCK Background

Jump to first page vk-05/2005 Goal n Establish sustainable communication and networking among educational institutions in Kenya that will facilitate wide use of ICTs in teaching, learning, research and sharing of other information resources to the general populace at affordable cost.

Jump to first page vk-05/2005 Objectives n To establish a high –speed national IP- based network interconnecting all learning and educational institutions. n To provide sustainable and permanent Internet access to all institutions n Create at least one learning center in each institution to support e-learning n To develop a comprehensive national education portal with an appropriate e- learning platform n To train faculty and ICT support staff

Jump to first page vk-05/2005 Digressing –NRENs elsewhere!!! n JANET –pioneer Research and Educational Network (NREN), currently operated on ‘private business’ status n CERNET –largest NREN at the moment very active in research and learning material production. Funded by the central government, cost recovery model and operated by a consortium of universities n TENET –South African tertiary institutions network. Government funded n Korea, Belgium, Texas Universities, Egypt, Rwanda, Ukrain, etc., Mixture of govt and cost recovery models in existence.

Jump to first page vk-05/2005 n Infrastructure n Content n Policy n Capacity development Areas of operation Head Infrastructure Head Systems/Network/ Telecom Engineers Interns Content Head R&D Activities Admin//Finance

Jump to first page vk-05/2005 Coverage/member institutions

Jump to first page  ICTs have impacted all economic sectors immensely: Work environments Culture & social interactions Etc Overview  ? Can ICTs influence development & Education Competition of scarce resources Integration of ICTs into the education system –teaching & learning processes Best fit models & benchmarking

Jump to first page Opportunities  May be deployed to allow wider access to high quality learning resources  ICTs offers the opportunity to harnesses the scattered resources into a single well organized and easily accessible point  An enabler of sharing the scarce teaching resources to a wider population  Improving teaching delivery efficiency –by deploying technology to improve education and not as an end by itself

Jump to first page  In the quest for empowering learners independence, a people comfortable with ICTs develop an information culture that generates critical thinking and awareness about knowledge production.  Offers opportunities for collaboration and peer support  Well articulated and formed communication channels can be used for other purposes for the benefit of the communities at large.  Technological advancements Opportunities cont.

Jump to first page Challenges  Infrastructure: including Hardware Software Power Supply Connectivity value etc.  Initial and ongoing training: untrained staff tend to be weary of deploying new technology in their work  Running costs and maintenance: besides the initial setup, continuity and sustainability of the system is paramount

Jump to first page vk-05/2005  Replacement costs: Obsoleteness of systems (equipment and technologies) is a reality which planners have to live with in the ICTs arena.  Relevant Content  Institutions commitment  Regulatory & Taxation Regimes Challenges cont.

Jump to first page vk-05/2005 Interventions  Partnerships & Resources mobilization (systems & human capital): Different players –government, private & public sector Sharing resources –institutional alliances, community involvement  Policy & Strategies: An all inclusive approach Integrated into the core teaching and learning approaches e-rates Open Source encouragement Legal implications –IP, Copyright, Ethical considerations

Jump to first page vk-05/2005 n The framework allow for the establishment of a highly decentralized environment that takes cognizance of various stakeholders roles. produce policies that coalesce fragmented interests in the role of ICTs into a healthy community of interests and actions. Conclusion & Lessons Learned

Jump to first page vk-05/2005 Why Connectivity  ICTs offers the opportunity to harnesses the scattered resources into a single well organized and easily accessible point  Three levels of connectivity International Connectivity National or Local Inter-institutions Connectivity Intra-institutional Connectivity

Jump to first page vk-05/2005 Tier1 Tier2 Tier3 KENET Education x-change node members Connectivity Tiers

Jump to first page vk-05/2005 International Connectivity ISP1 ISP2 ISP3 xchange1 xchange2 ISP3 ISP2 ISP1 Internet backbone Other users ISP1 ISP2 Backbone Provider kixp kenet

Jump to first page vk-05/2005 Satellite dish others Maseno All Major Institutions with Downlinks and E1 Backhaul to KENET Aggregation point E1 Links nXE1 KENSTREAM 64k, 128k, 256k, 512k, 1m Links to KENET institutions Downlinks Downlink Future Uplink Central Downlink Remote or Locally Located KENET Sat Hub. Initially to be used forDownlink only GILAT, KENSAT, etc KDN Other DATA Networks Access/ Bandwidth Mngr National or Local Inter- institutions Connectivity mainly in Nairobi

Jump to first page vk-05/2005 International Gateway National Connectivity Institutions Networks Internet connectivity thro’ JamboNet, Jamii, KDN, Own Gateway, etc PoPs in all regions to ensure easy distribution, connection to KIXP for ‘National Internet’ Computer Labs & Networks in all institutions Connectivity Levels Connectivity Levels Users collectively, alliances with others like AVU, PAREN, etc Contributions polled together Responsibility Domain Responsibility Domain Investment KENET in partnership with local loop operators, building of wireless links, etc Members through contributions & support -institutions -KENET -partners, etc By all stakeholders Implementation Approach Connectivity Approach Description

Jump to first page vk-05/2005 Institutional Level Networks National Level Others (outside networks access) Aim at institutions accumulating 40% of their content requirements internally Develop shared content nationally by hosting (available content), harnessing new content – aim/fill 60% requirements Be able to get what one needs Content Availability Content Availability Description Developing and eplatform with a CMS, elearning support, MIS module, etc Collaborations, focused platforms cutting across board, e.g ITDawn, Content Mall, etc How? Required Extend the pool of partnerships eg KARI, AJOL, ICIPE, TTCs, MOEST Agencies, etc 1.Structured content developing & hosting 2.Tying up of the content availability All collectively Negotiate with others (NRENS), mirror servers, etc Implementation Approach Content strategy

Jump to first page vk-05/2005 Labs MIS Content Intranet Institutional Networks Institutional Readiness Elearning Library systems Hot spots FIS Student enrollment

Jump to first page vk-05/2005 Indicator Stage Indicator Network Access 1. Information Infrastructure11. Locally Relevant Content 2. Internet Availability12. ICTs in Everyday Life 3. Internet Affordability13. ICTs in the Workplace 4. Network Speed and Quality Networked Economy 5. Hardware and Software14. ICT Employment Opportunities 6. Service and Support15. B2C Electronic Commerce Networked Learning 16. B2B Electronic Commerce 7. Schools’ Access to ICTs17. E-Government 8. Enhancing Education with ICTs Network Policy 9. Developing ICT Workforce18. Telecommunication Regulation Networked Society 19. ICT Trade Policy 10. People and Organizations Online Stage eReadiness Indication –Kenya 2002

Jump to first page vk-05/2005 n Connectivity -getting there, though still constrained by the local loops availability and capacities n Content issues –generation of usable content beginning to appear, positive collaborations emerging n Policy –has improved tremendously from hostile to very supportive n Future –can only be better Score Card

Jump to first page vk-05/2005 Thank you

Jump to first page vk-05/2005 Head Infrastructure Head Systems/Network/ Telecom Engineers Interns Content Head R&D Activities Admin//Finance