<br><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CUser%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CUser%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CUser%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dear Listers,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If I may make a few comments on some capacity building
initiatives that the MOE (Min of Education) is already putting in place that
will vastly increase ICT skills into the Market . Whereas these will not be
at the Degree level I am certain that for data entry and perhaps other less specialized fields of the BPO sector they will ready and
available for snapping up.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are various programs that are already in place to
equip secondary schools with Computer labs and appropriate digital content
aimed at enhancing competencies in both the sciences, Mathematics and ICT
subject areas. These will see skills (that are necessary at foundation level)
identified both by the students themselves and the MOE that can then be harnessed
either through selection of science based careers or ICT preparedness of the
student body that graduates from High school. These skills can then be tapped
into by the ICT sector in general or BPO in particular. Or even better open up
possibilities of degree courses that are attractive to the wider BPO sector
requirements.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The first round of 213 schools is done and simple maths for
this should tell us that already over 127, 800 students (213 X 600 on average
students per school) are already getting hands on experience on basic ICT skill
sets. More schools are expected for the 2009-2010 financial year I suspect. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Although I am not privy to the MOE plan their ICT for
secondary school policy clearly seeks to impart not just<span style=""> </span>basic ICT skills to each and every secondary
school student but to take things one step further and implement computer
studies as an examinable subject in more schools, this will give students a
wider range of skills that I am sure will be exactly what the doctor ordered
for the BPO sector and ICT entrepreneurship in general. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Taking a leaf from countries such as Malaysia and India it
was the 'opening' up of the ICT sector within the mass education system (
secondary/Tertiary) that enabled a boost to their own ICT industry.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our young students simply need to have these skills and I am
sure that the Human resource gap that is looming will be readily and ably
filled not just as front office workers but for innovation as well more specific skill sets as well.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What needs to also be shared out is what are the specific
skill sets required for the BPO industry - I am sure that the skills needed in
the tourism sector , differ from those needed in the medical sector. That way
this information can inform the Education Managers to tilt or include/ enhance
some skill sets within the curriculum that will form the foundation for further
development either on the job or at tertiary level.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The long and short of it, from my perspective is that the
BPO sector will post even bigger successes if the MOE is made part and parcel
of the delivery chain. The purpose of education at a policy level is to prepare
the future work force for its country.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The mouse needs to be the new pen in schools. And with
appropriate shift in policy and funding, this can be acheived.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fatma</p>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 11:33 AM, lily marusoi <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:lmarusoi@yahoo.com">lmarusoi@yahoo.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit;" valign="top">
<div><br>My take on Q 7&8</div>
<div> </div>
<div>We need to come up with a standardized national curriculum for the BPO sector a "finishing school" for those aspiring to work in the BPO sector. Having looked at the KBPO society training framework I feel there is a need to customise it to fit our Kenyan situation as some skills set were assumed to be obvious. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>When we talk of equiping the graduates, lets not also forget that we have so many other youths graduating from tertiary institutions with certificates and diplomas. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Some major industry players have hinted that they prefer non graduates so long as they have the right attitudes, it is easier to train skills but not attitudes which is a major factor in the BPO sector.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Regards</div>
<div>Lily</div>
<div> </div>
<div><br>--- On <b>Mon, 6/8/09, Judy Okite <i><<a href="mailto:judyokite@gmail.com" target="_blank">judyokite@gmail.com</a>></i></b> wrote:<br></div>
<blockquote style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(16, 16, 255); padding-left: 5px; margin-left: 5px;"><br>From: Judy Okite <<a href="mailto:judyokite@gmail.com" target="_blank">judyokite@gmail.com</a>><br>Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues<div class="im">
<br>To: <a href="mailto:lmarusoi@yahoo.com" target="_blank">lmarusoi@yahoo.com</a><br>Cc: <a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br></div>Date: Monday, June 8, 2009, 11:50 AM<div class="im">
<br><br>
<div>to answer both Q 7&8<br><br>my suggestion on this.....all graduates,should be equipped to work in a BPO,at the time of their graduation. BPO specifics,should be entrenched,within the curriculum.....with this there will be no descrimination and I believe it will bring in quality to this market e.g in USIU,I know you have to do a foreign language....at some point in your 2years of your time with them...it doesnt really matter what course your taking and level.<br>
<br>Kind Regards,<br><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 8:06 AM, Walubengo J <span dir="ltr"><<a href="http://us.mc1102.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=jwalu@yahoo.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">jwalu@yahoo.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">-Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, Human Capacity Issues<br><br>Morning all,<br><br>I trust you had a refreshing weekend. Today I want to introduce the theme on Human Resource Development for the BPO industry. The Researchers found that India, S.Africa and Mauritius had a comprehensive inventory of their skill-base that was also available for Validation by prospective employers and investors. Another observation was ofcourse the sheer numbers of Indian graduates (millions) that made it the largest base of highly skilled pool of graduates with strong mathematical/scientific orientation. Whereas, Mauritius was producing only 10,000 (university) graduates per year compared to Kenya's 30,000 per year, Mauritius had the advantage of properly documenting their national graduates database and marketing it appropriately
to potential clients in Europe/America. In addition, the Researchers noted that Mauritius had a government funded but Private-Sector oriented ICT Academy that produced graduates specificially for the ICT industry.<br><br>
In Kenya, the Researchers observed that apart from the lack of a national database on the available skills/graduates, some of the BPO operators were engaged in vicious poaching cycles where Agents trained in-house by one Operater are immediately hired by the Competing Operators. It was noted, that an attempt has been made by the .KE Government to create an Industry-specific University (Multimedia University College of Kenya) to address the HR gap but its success or otherwise will remain to be seen in a few years time. The Researchers also noted that Kenya's English-speaking labor force had an edge over the Indian one given that the average Kenyan had a "neutral" accent unlike the Indian graduate who tended to have an
"ethnic" accent that often distracted the Euro-American markets/clients.<br><br>But this advantage is yet to be exploited - even as the Indians move up the BPO value chain and concentrate on non-accent related processes such as Software Engineering, Research (Financial, Medicine, etc), Product (e.g. Civil and Architectural) Design amongst others. Which leads us to todays questions.<br>
<br>Qtn 7: How do we develop a national database on the wide-range of available ICT skill in Kenya - specifically which institution should be mandated to realise this, ensuring that such a database is kept upto date over the years?<br>
<br>Qtn 8: What strategies should the country adopt to ensure a continuous supply of relevant and timely BPO-Specific skills?<br><br>Please, lets have your comments flowing,dig yahjwalu starting now...<br><br>walu.<br><br>
Encl: Synthesis 3 - HR Issues<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>
<br>_______________________________________________<br>kictanet mailing list<br><a href="http://us.mc1102.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br><br>This message was sent to: <a href="http://us.mc1102.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=judyokite@gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">judyokite@gmail.com</a><br>
Unsubscribe or change your options at <a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/judyokite%40gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/judyokite%40gmail.com</a><br>
<br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>"Each of us is great insofar as we perceive and act
on the infinite possibilities which lie undiscovered and unrecognized about us." James Harvey Robinson<br></div><br></div>-----Inline Attachment Follows-----<br><br>
<div><div class="im">_______________________________________________<br>kictanet mailing list<br><a href="http://us.mc1102.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br><br></div>This message was sent to: <a href="http://us.mc1102.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=lmarusoi@yahoo.com" target="_blank">lmarusoi@yahoo.com</a><br>
Unsubscribe or change your options at <a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lmarusoi%40yahoo.com" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lmarusoi%40yahoo.com</a><br></div>
</blockquote></td></tr></tbody></table><br>
<br>_______________________________________________<br>
kictanet mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
<br>
This message was sent to: <a href="mailto:fatma.bashir@gmail.com">fatma.bashir@gmail.com</a><br>
Unsubscribe or change your options at <a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/fatma.bashir%40gmail.com" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/fatma.bashir%40gmail.com</a><br>
<br></blockquote></div><br>