[kictanet] Day 3 of 10: How to Develop Skilled Human Capital

Fri Jun 24 16:53:44 EAT 2016

Technology transfer, +1
Used to be mandatory when the former government utility Telkom Kenya imported new exchanges/switches/technology, they Supplier had to train 3 lecturers from KCCT (now MMU) on the new technology in order to train others to maintain and support the technology.
Again, not sure if it happens in private sector (who may prefer to fly in their expatriate labor to do basic routine maintenance :-).  I think there's need for a policy statement in favor of training or upscaling local labor in the Tech space.
walu.

      From: Grace Mutung'u (Bomu) via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
 To: jwalu at yahoo.com 
Cc: Grace Mutung'u (Bomu) <nmutungu at gmail.com>
 Sent: Friday, June 24, 2016 3:15 PM
 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 3 of 10: How to Develop Skilled Human Capital

I would like the policy to cater for the issue of transfer of technology and knowledge. While it is a given that many government/public sector ICT tenders may be given to large corporations and multi nationals, ICT sector should lead the way in transfer of technology and knowledge in these projects. This may be structured to take in young graduates from youth polytechnics, colleges and universities as well as other Kenyan professionals. The ICT policy must help us to get to the point where we can measure in terms of number of people who gain useful skills for Kenya's economy from every ICT project whether at national or county level.Regards,  
2016-06-24 14:00 GMT+03:00 Josiah Mugambi via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>:

1) let's start very early. Not just teaching how to use technology but how to develop new technology. High school at the very minimum. The approach matters too: passing ICT exams doesn't necessarily mean top tier software. Design thinking, critical thinking, right work ethic all matter. 

2) Internships, apprenticeships. Formal learning only goes so far. Folks need experience. Many people I know doing pretty well in ICT started out as internships, grew and learnt new things, took on more responsibilities over time. On Jun 24, 2016 13:04, "Walubengo J via kictanet" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

True Barrack.
Just what I have alluded to in response to @Wangari contribution.  The so called TIVET institutions seem to have missed the ICT train in the national discourse.
walu.

      From: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com>
 To: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>; John Walubengo <jwalu at yahoo.com> 
 Sent: Friday, June 24, 2016 12:54 PM
 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 3 of 10: How to Develop Skilled Human Capital

Hi Walu,I think we need to strengthen village polytechnics, we also need to invest in them with the right personell and equipment in this case computer labs to empower citizens at village level. Currently education facilities are centred around towns and major cities.RegardsOn Jun 24, 2016 12:27 PM, "Walubengo J via kictanet" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

True that.
We need to more innovation /incubation hubs. Better still if spread across the country rather than concentrated on Nairobi Ngong road.
Additionally, we need more interactions with Universities to raise these innovation spaces to the next level - in terms of radical or patent level innovations.  From where I stand as a mwalimu, I still do not feel the University contributions in this spaces as yet.
I wonder what can be done...
walu.

      From: Ahmed Mohamed Maawy <ultimateprogramer at gmail.com>
 To: Walubengo J <jwalu at yahoo.com>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> 
 Sent: Friday, June 24, 2016 8:30 AM
 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 3 of 10: How to Develop Skilled Human Capital

This is a personally passionate topic to me especially with SwahiliBox in Mombasa.

Basically there should be endorsement and support to setups like SwahiliBox - which are hubs and innovation spaces - finding ways to make it easier to not only train, but also certify and expose individuals. Policies should make it easier for such organizations to equip themselves, to get access to government incentives and support. Especially in an Internet enabled global marketplace.

These hubs are also strategic opportunity building venues, they create opportunity spaces for individuals whom they skill and who get exposure to the programs they offer. Recently, for instance, a program SwahiliBox did known as the CodeChallange has skilled more than 10 individuals on real life app development scenarios. The next stage is developing opportunity spaces for the individuals and of course through that also for the hub.

This is only just the tip of the ice-berg. Because in the current setup a lot of individuals get exposure through hubs and hubs that are setup in learning institutions.

On Fri, Jun 24, 2016 at 8:18 AM, Walubengo J via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

Listers,
Plse feel free to contribute on previous threads as long as you pick the corresponding title.  Also remember, for those wishing to directly edit the Draft ICT policy, visit Jadili platform, register and post.
So onto todays theme:How to Develop Skilled Human Capital 
*ICT integration in primary, secondary, tertiary levels,*Specialized Skills (Software /Engineering)*Research & Development Capacity*eLiteracy for citizens/public 
The Background:The Digital Literacy Program aka the Laptop project is ongoing and we probably have  to wait another 18-20yrs years to  see its impact (when today’s std 1s hit the market).  But meanwhile, we need skilled human capital to help move us from a net consumer of electronic goods and services into a net producer of the same.
Our R&D output in general is quite low (Global Innovation Index 2015) despite the fact that we are leader at a regional level.  What should the Policy capture  to ensure Kenya churns out a constant supply of  highly skilled manpower necessary to drive the digital society.
Send in your ideas, comments, strategies, etc. 
1Day as usual for the topic.
walu. 
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