Dedan Kimathi University of Technology in collaboration with the University of Nairobi, Maseno University, Kibabii University (Kenya) and Leibniz University Hannover (Germany) jointly organized two workshops on “The Role of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) and Virtual Exchanges in promoting Internationalization at Home in Higher Academic Institutions in Kenya “on 13th to 16th February, 2024 at the Heron Portico Hotel in Nairobi and 12th – 14th June, 2024 at the Kisumu Hotel. The training course is part of the National Multiplication Trainings (NMT) of the DIES programme (Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education Strategies) coordinated by DAAD.
The course is jointly initiated by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German Rectors Conference (HRK) with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development Cooperation (BMZ). The aim of the workshops was to provide an in-depth application of COIL illustrating how virtual exchange can enable geographically distant students and staff to team up and develop core competencies and skills required for internationalization. The workshop also offered an opportunity to explore the possibilities of combining the lessons learned in online education and international collaborations and linkages.
The first workshop held from 13th February, 2024 to 16th February, 2024 at the Heron Portico Hotel in Nairobi drew participants from 17 universities from Kenya and outside of Kenya. Key Speakers were drawn from the Inter-University Council of East Africa (IUCEA), the Commission for University Education in Kenya, Leibniz University of Hannover, Germany, Cardina Herera University, Spain, Thomas More University Belgium and Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
During the workshop, the DeKUT Vice Chancellor represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Esther Magiri a DIES Alumni hailed the DIES courses and encouraged participants to enrol in the various programmes organized by the DAAD as they contributed greatly to development of one’s professional career. During the event, the DeKUT Drama Club performed various items with the show stopper being a poem written by Timothy Toywa a fourth-year computer science student which was titled the ‘Static Dynamic’ and whose theme was ‘online collaborations a scholarly tide, international collaborations, a boundless embrace.’
This 2nd Workshop took place at the Kisumu Hotel from 12th – 14th June, 2024.
Among the topics discussed included revitalizing performance of Technical and Vocational education and training institutions in Internationalization at home programs in Kenya, The challenges and sustainability of COIL programs in higher academic institutions; AUAS experience, advancing and sustaining Internationalization at home programs in higher academic institutions, Monitoring and evaluation of institutions capacity for sustaining and expanding COIL virtual exchange modalities, practical skills and competencies among other areas affecting internationalization.
The Chief Guest for the workshop was Prof. Qin Xia, the Programme Manager of DIES “National Multiplication Trainings “of The Department of Higher Education Studies, Center for Quality Development (ZfQ), University of Potsdam.
