[kictanet] The Premier B.Sc. Computer Science Programme in Kenya

Thu Nov 12 14:07:26 EAT 2009

Hello everyone,

Most of the contributions on this thread are focusing on the curricula and
the finished product-ready for employment.

Being an SCI graduate myself, I was left wondering where, if at all we shall
apply all that knowledge. And who says that SCI* must produce employable
graduates* anyway? We need not forget that the University must also 'churn
out' researchers and entrepreneurs.

Its very easy and obvious for all of us to extoll on the virtues of SCI
producing graduates who are relevant to the  industry and job market at the
moment. However, it must also be noted that alot of students would gladly
take up  and scale their projects and various innovations to higher levels
if only they were given the means to do so. Thus, if the University and SCI
in particular can create an environment and a culture that encourages
students to come up with market viable projects, and then create structures
that will enable the projects/products/innovations to go to market, that to
me would be a big plus, not only for the students but also for the country.
Maybe SCI needs to find a way to either get a group of
investors/mentors/.advisors who would partner with the students in
developing market relevant solutions instead of waiting for the students to
graduate and look for a safe secure  job.

Thanks in advance.

Martin S. Njuguna
CEO
Digital Vision Limited
Kitengela Road, Langata, Nairobi
P.O Box 40721 00100
t:+254-20-21 33 865
c:+254 721 440 543
e:martin at digitalvision.co.ke <e%3Amartin at digitalvision.co.ke>
w: http://www.digitalvision.co.ke
Skype: digitalv.ke

On Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 9:21 PM, Harry Delano <harry at comtelsys.co.ke> wrote:

>
> John W,
>
> I agree with you to an extend. However, I feel that clustering of all these
> disciplines in one particular curriculum, either way or Cramming
> one course with all that can possibly be taught in class, and meet what the
> employer might be seeking for may not be practical in the long
> run. Infact this seems to be the case with the current curricula, where
> most of the disciplines within the current course outlines really never
> get applied anywhere. This is wasted knowledge. Just like, much of the
> physics and the Chemistry you and me learnt in High school may
> just have been a real total 'waste' of  time, effort, and money. It might
> only serve to create some walking encyclopedias with knowledge that
> never gets applied. Let us develop Specialized Training Curriculas way
> before even the university entry..
>
> Muthoni, if you would ask me, I would recommend that even before you
> overhaul the current University curriculum, a crucial section of
> stakeholders that comprise the High School, and probably the upper primary
> School fraternity, need to be brought into the fold in order to
> develop and adopt what I would call a "Bottoms-up"  approach in arriving at
> curriculum that flows right through the entire Education system
> as currently structured, with vision 2030 in mind.
>
> Of course the other end of the production - The employers, who are
> consumers of the Finished products, are equally important, but also
> will need to make "Realistic" demands on the graduands.. When you demand
> that you need graduates who have done computer Science,
> Electronic Engineering etc, all compressed in one,  it tends to lock
> out deserving prospects for the job. It may be cost-saving to look at it
> that way but in the long run it won't augur well for skills development
> that we have at our disposal.
>
> Please cast the net far and wide, it's just as a multistakeholder issue,
> at hand, just as the Constitutional Review is..
>
> Regards,
> Harry
>
>  ------------------------------
> *From:* kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke[mailto:
> kictanet-bounces+harry <kictanet-bounces%2Bharry>=comtelsys.co.ke@
> lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *Walubengo J
> *Sent:* Wednesday, November 11, 2009 10:18 AM
> *To:* harry at comtelsys.co.ke
> *Cc:* skunk; waema at uonbi.ac.ke; moturi; sci-acad at uonbi.ac.ke; KICTAnet ICT
> Policy Discussions
>
> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] The Premier B.Sc. Computer Science Programme in
> Kenya
>
>   Muthoni M,
>
> I think its good to see Academia going back to the industry to ask for
> input in curricula development.  Previous University Dons would rather claim
> it was their sole prerogative to say what needs to be taught and when and
> how it would be taught.
>
> Indeed just looking at the recent post from Eng. Kariuki regarding "ICT
> Jobs at Huawei" it shows the gap between industry and academia. Whereas most
> ICT University Curricula continues to be strictly segmented along EITHER
> "Computer Science/Info Technology" OR "Electrical/Telco Engineering" most
> employers seem to be looking for BOTH CompScience/IT and Engineering
> components from their candidates.
>
> The Challenge then becomes, should IT students be taught some
> Telco-engineering concepts or Should Electrical and other Engineers be
> taught IT concepts? I know I have not answered your question regarding
> inputs for the Computers Science program, but it is just that your question
> provokes more questions than answers...
>
> walu.
>
>
>
>
> --- On *Tue, 11/10/09, Muthoni Masinde <muthoni at uonbi.ac.ke>* wrote:
>
>
> From: Muthoni Masinde <muthoni at uonbi.ac.ke>
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] The Premier B.Sc. Computer Science Programme in
> Kenya
> To: jwalu at yahoo.com
> Cc: "moturi" <moturi at uonbi.ac.ke>, "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>, "sci-acad at uonbi.ac.ke" <
> sci-acad at uonbi.ac.ke>, waema at uonbi.ac.ke
> Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 2:39 PM
>
> Dear Nancy,
> I agree with you; we actually review our curriculum every 4 years; the
> current one is 4 years old and that is why we are reviewing it.  We have
> always done it through the approach you have described but this time round,
> we would like to incorporate stakeholders views.  Quality assurance issues
> are well taken care of.
>
> The issue of specialisation from 2nd year seems to be favoured by many and
> we consider this.
>
> Thank you very much for the comments and indeed I will be glad to receive
> more ideas from ICSIT-JKUAT.
>
> Best regards,
> Muthoni
>
>
> On 11/10/09 12:03 AM, "n_macharia at yahoo.co.uk<http://mc/[email protected]>"
> <n_macharia at yahoo.co.uk <http://mc/[email protected]>>
> wrote:
>
> > Muthoni,
> >
> > This is a brilliant idea. In my view you benefit by eliciting very
> valuable
> > and resourceful ideas for the Curriculum from experienced and sharpened
> staff.
> >
> > An all stakeholder involvement in either curriculum review or development
> is
> > an IUCEA and CHE requirement. Its the right process for both academic
> quality
> > assurance and towards offering demand driven(ICT industry, Kenyas vision
> 2030)
> > and custom  built training.
> >
> > The revision is long overdue. In any case the requirement is one cycle
> which
> > is in the period of five yrs.
> >
> > On CS, the direction focus should be specialisation from 2nd Year of
> study
> > after the foundation units.
> >
> > We in academia, believe in sharing "cable", here knowledge and ideas.
> Will
> > share this with ICSIT colleagues in JKUAT and come back to you.
> >
> > Nancy Macharia
> > Deputy Director
> > ICSIT  JKUAT
> > Sent from my BlackBerry®
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Tuma Barua <tumabarua at gmail.com<http://mc/[email protected]>
> >
> > Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 17:19:40
> > To: <n_macharia at yahoo.co.uk<http://mc/[email protected]>
> >
> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke<http://mc/[email protected]>
> >;
> > moturi<moturi at uonbi.ac.ke <http://mc/[email protected]>>; <
> waema at uonbi.ac.ke <http://mc/[email protected]>>
> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] The Premier B.Sc. Computer Science Programme in
> Kenya
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > kictanet mailing list
> > kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke<http://mc/[email protected]>
> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
> >
> > This message was sent to: n_macharia at yahoo.co.uk<http://mc/[email protected]>
> > Unsubscribe or change your options at
> >
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/n_macharia%40yahoo.co.uk
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > kictanet mailing list
> > kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke<http://mc/[email protected]>
> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
> >
> > This message was sent to: muthoni at uonbi.ac.ke<http://mc/[email protected]>
> > Unsubscribe or change your options at
> >
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/muthoni%40uonbi.ac.ke
> >
> >
> > -----------------------------------------
> > This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by
> > MailScanner,
> > and is believed to be clean.
> >
> > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> >  UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI IS ISO CERTIFIED
> >
> > The University of Nairobi is committed to providing quality services to
> all
> > its clients. The University will monitor and review its quality
> performance
> > from time to time through an effective implementation of the Quality
> > Management System based on ISO 9001:2008 standard.
> >
> > University of Nairobi Website: http://www.uonbi.ac.ke/
> > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> >
>
>
>
>
> -----------------------------------------
> This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by
> MailScanner,
> and is believed to be clean.
>
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI IS ISO CERTIFIED
>
> The University of Nairobi is committed to providing quality services to all
> its clients. The University will monitor and review its quality performance
> from time to time through an effective implementation of the Quality
> Management System based on ISO 9001:2008 standard.
>
> University of Nairobi Website: http://www.uonbi.ac.ke/
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke<http://mc/[email protected]>
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>
> This message was sent to: jwalu at yahoo.com<http://mc/[email protected]>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>
> This message was sent to: martin at digitalvision.co.ke
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/martin%40digitalvision.co.ke
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/pipermail/kictanet/attachments/20091112/5de17384/attachment.htm>