Mount Kenya University (MKU) is in the process of upgrading its ICT infrastructure so as to host more than 100,000 online learners at any time for different learning activities as demand continues to surge.

Dr Merceline Kamande, the university’s principal for the Directorate of Open Distance and Electronic Learning (ODEL) says they had 5,292 students by 2018 while by the end of 2021, the number had grown to 15,874. “It is also projected that the numbers will continue to rise as more people are open to alternate approaches of in education more than it was a few years ago,” Dr Kamande says.

She speaks in an interview carried in the Kenya Secondary School Heads Professional Magazine (The Principal) released during this year’s ongoing Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (Kesha) annual conference for principals in Mombasa.  “The university embarked on e-learning in 2010 when the online learning platform was first developed to host only two programmes. The current student population accessing education through the Open Distance Electronic Learning (ODEL) are in excess of 15,000 in 65-degree programmes,” says Dr Kamande.

The students are distributed throughout all MKU campuses as well as Diaspora   centres in various parts of the county as well as in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Hargesia (Somaliland). Additionally, the ODEL directorate serves students in other parts of the world including South Sudan, Tanzania, Qatar, Canada and USA, among others. “The students have a choice of study between the blended mode of study and a virtual mode of study based on their locality and convenience,” adds Dr Kamande.

The Mount Kenya University ODEL directorate is the technology hub responsible for providing open distance and E-Learning university education. It coordinates virtual class to both on campus and off campus students and connects the university and its campuses hence helping the university in achieving its vision and mission. Students interact with their tutors and fellow students and submit their assignment and Continuous Assessments Tests online. Tutors mark and deliver results to the students using the same system. Students undertake courses at their own pace and hence can always read ahead or back on topics anytime.

ODEL offers certificate, diploma, bachelors, postgraduate and masters programmes through two modes: Digital learning and Distance and Institution-based Learning (DIBL). The Digital Learning mode offers opportunities to online students who have no opportunities for a face-to-face interaction. Instructor student interaction is online through the digital learning management system.

The DIBL is a blended mode of study where one-third of the learning is delivered through face-to-face (14 hours) while two-thirds (28 hours) is done through web-based learning.

According to Dr Kamande, the Coronavirus pandemic had a huge impact on the education sector just like in all other sectors worldwide. However, when face-to-face teaching and learning was suspended by the government in line with WHO’s recommendations, MKU was among the few universities in the country that remained afloat by integrating their students to the online platform. “In this way, the university continued to offer uninterrupted teaching and learning services online. This ensured that students who were due for graduation were able to do so without delays,” she added.

Naturally, some students face challenges in accessing the internet. MKU has tackled this problem via a memorandum of understanding with Safaricom and Telkom that offers affordable internet connection to faculty members and learners.  “The students are able to download the clearing materials and study offline which reduces the internet time they require,” notes the economists.

Going forward, Dr Kamande is pleading with the Kenya government to institute policies that can bring the actualization of one laptop per learner.  A corresponding intervention to reduce internet costs would also play a major role to enhance online learning. “Online learning is very dependent on the internet, electricity and availability of ICT infrastructure. Students are expected to have access to a computer whose costs can be inhibitive.  

To date, the university has a sable and dedicated fibre optic connections powered by KENET. MKU has also invested heavily in a robust e-learning management system, Sakaj and other platforms such as Microsoft teams, and office 365 collaboration tools that support all kinds of online learning needs of the institution.

This is matched with a robust student management information system (SMIS) which keeps track of students’ details and engagements from recruitment, registration, examination, student finance, attachment and teaching practice.  It also gives access to semester results, academic leave and resumption, students’ emails, clearance and certification.

To ensure quality, MKU has developed examination rules and regulations that guide the process.  In addition, the institution has developed Online Examination Guidelines to be followed in the administration of online tests.  Examinations are uploaded in the university’s approved online platform and the registered students are able to access the papers from their respective portals.

“The university online proctor software system is used for invigilation of examinations which is an improvement from the Microsoft Teams software,” says Dr Kamande.

  Meanwhile, the university has adopted the SAKAJ eLearning solutions for both learning and assessment. Adopting virtual labs for practical oriented programmes will also go along way I improving the knowledge base and employable skills for e-learners especially in the health and science courses.

Dr Kamande says a student who successfully meets the requirements of a degree while studying online signals a very competent and skilled worker who has the potential to perform well in the job market. “Most students who choose online learning are mature age entry students who are in the middle of their careers. …they are self-motivated students who have the ability to direct their own learning environment and methods to fulfill course requirements to achieve academic success.

And demand for online learning is growing. It is projected that over 80 per cent of the ODEL student population will choose to take online exams facilitated by the MKU-owned proctoring software. “We are in the process of upgrading the ICT infrastructure so as to host more than 100,000 online at any time for different learning activities. The university is committed to continuous content enhancement using the latest technology and in partnership with other stakeholders to ensure that ODEL students get the best of what is available in the learning ecosystem,” concludes Dr Kamande.  

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