Higher learning institutions scale up online studies awaiting reopening

 Weeks after Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha urged universities to scale up their online learning as they prepare for a possible reopening, most institutions of higher learning have continued to upgrade their learning management systems.

For adequate response to the extraordinary circumstances that the Covid-19 pandemic has presented to the country, the CS maintained that virtual learning is the way to go.

The latest institution to join the list of universities offering online teaching is Zetech University, which has upgraded its education management system to enhance online learning experience.

 The university has in the last five months recorded successful implementation of a blended online learning programme that has seen over 80 per cent of its student population benefit.

 Zetech Vice Chancellor Prof Njenga Munene says the University invested millions in upgrading the University’s Learning Management System, training lecturers and awarding students with free data to enable them progress with studies despite halting of face-to-face learning due to Covid-19.

 This progress was boosted by the university’s upgrading of the Learning Management System, which initially hosted 1,000 learners to accommodate over 10, 000 students in the Zetech Digital School and provide an ideal platform for online studies.

The university has provided free bundles to students in an initiative that has seen over 100,000 mobile numbers white-listed for discounted bundles to facilitate learning.

Concerted training format

Prof Munene said the University has benchmarked against leading institutions across the world to come up with the right tools for effective online learning.

“We are grateful to the government’s support in enabling higher education to thrive, as the University leverages on simulations and online videos to teach practical lessons online,” he said

 Lauding the uptake of 80 per cent of students who enrolled for virtual learning, deputy Vice Chancellor, academics, research, extension and student affairs Dr Alice Njuguna said, “We have embraced a concerted training format, which uses different forms of training, such as live classes through video conferencing platforms, online interactive classes, pre-recorded videos from lecturers and interactive online peer discussions.

The experience has been embraced by both learners and their guardians as an effective way of training.”

 In the upcoming September 2020 intake, the university is encouraging self and government-sponsored students not to wait for universities to reopen physical campuses to pursue online degrees, diplomas and certificates. They can apply on the university website and enjoy online learning.