Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology in Bondo, Siaya, has invested Sh6 million to support its ICT infrastructure in readiness for virtual learning.

Speaking during virtual orientation for over 2,000 First Year students on Tuesday, Vice-Chancellor Prof Stephen Agong, stated that with the support of the Senate and the university council, they have invested heavily in ICT infrastructure to ensure learning goes on despite coronavirus pandemic.

Agong revealed that the university has bought zoom licences at about Sh1 million, which has the capacity to host 9,000 learners at any given time.

Institution has also acquired ICT exam software at a cost of Sh5 million that has already proved very effective in the recently concluded exams. 

 While the university has invested heavily on ICT, it has also saved about Sh3 million since the institution has gone paperless, explained Prof Agong.

“Virtual learning may be expensive to set up, but in the end it will prove to be the cheapest, efficient and most effective mode of delivering learning,” stated Prof Agong.  

He stated that as an institution, which has a bias on technology, they appreciate the fact that Covid-19 is a threat to humanity, but also provided an opportunity to use virtual space to interact and improve the lives of students as well as other stakeholders. 

The VC urged the students to leverage on the virtual space created by the university to learn and undertake research. -KNA