1. UNIVERSITY ROLES IN MEETING ASPIRATIONS FOR ICT & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRESENTATION BY: PROF. OLIVE M. MUGENDA Ph.D VICE-CHANCELLOR KENYATTA UNIVERSITY st 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. Characteristics cont’
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 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 7
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. ICT enhances North-South and South-South collaborations
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
Applications cont’
Technical and vocational training
ICT is being employed to train workers in many functional areas e.g Health care,IT services, teachers
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, , 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. University Management
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. University Strategic and Vision Plan
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. Bandwidth has been increased from 1mbps to 2mbps this year
ICT Initiatives cont’
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 14

15. Increased number of computers
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
ICT Initiatives cont’
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 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. Low speed & frequent breakdowns of servers
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 technical support
Challenges Cont’
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. 19

20. ICTs require large capital investments
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