Microsoft Africa Development Centre (ADC) and Microsoft Leap have launched a program aimed at enhancing the technical skills of university professors in Kenya.
The 12-week workshop, which started on March 6th, will provide a combination of classroom and hands-on training to deepen instructors’ understanding of the technology industry’s requirements.
The program will collaborate with engineers from the ADC, Nairobi, to improve skills through a curriculum taught by Microsoft Leap instructors.
The program’s goal is to inspire a change in the university curriculum to better align with the needs of the tech industry. Additionally, educators will receive training on Microsoft tools that are commonly used in classrooms worldwide and could be implemented in Kenyan lecture halls.
The first cohort of 23 educators is drawn from both private and public universities, including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Multimedia University, and Kirinyaga University, Strathmore University, KCA University, Kabarak University, USIU-Africa, Zetech University, and Africa Nazarene University.
According to Microsoft ADC Managing Director, Catherine Muraga, the program was designed to provide lecturers with hands-on experience with industry needs, allowing them to design effective teaching for their students in a practical manner.
‘The course will also expose them to advanced topics and allow them to experiment with effective teaching techniques while obtaining essential aspects of carrying out research studies,” she said.
Dr. Lawrence Nderu, Chairman/Lecturer, Department of Computing, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, expressed his department’s enthusiasm for participating in the Microsoft Skilling Program, as it will provide staff with access to cutting-edge technologies and a leading global company.
The program will equip technical educators with the necessary resources to introduce popular Microsoft tools such as Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Power Platforms, and Microsoft Dynamics.
This move aims to ensure that university professors have the technical know-how needed to meet the requirements of the technology industry. The training will also provide lecturers with the opportunity to collaborate with other educators, enhance their skills, and learn about best practices to incorporate into their teaching.
The launch of the program was the result of collaboration among many fronts, including university lecturers and their students.
The course has been designed to provide lecturers with hands-on experience with industry needs, allowing them to design effective teaching for their students in an equally practical manner.
The program will expose educators to advanced topics, enabling them to learn and experiment with effective teaching techniques while obtaining essential aspects of carrying out research studies.