President William Ruto has officially opened Kenya’s first virtual public University. The Head of State awarded a Charter to the Open University of Kenya at the varsity’s grounds in Konza Technopolis City in Machakos County.
The institution, which is expected to receive its first batch of students in September 2023, will operate under the theme ‘The Innovative University for Inclusive Prosperity’.
The Open University of Kenya will operate like other institutions but will only have virtual classes, allowing students to learn at their own time and place.
The university has four schools: Science and Technology, Education, Economics, and Business and Agriculture.
The Open University of Kenya has listed seven courses include;-
- Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security and Digital Forensics
- Bachelor in Technology Education
- Bachelor of Data Science
- Bachelor of Economics and Statistics
- Bachelor of Science in Business and Entrepreneurship.
Others are postgraduate courses and include a
- Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership and Accountability
- Postgraduate Diploma in Learning Design and Technology.
The institution is yet to detail the course fees and additional charges.
Open University of Kenya Chancellor
Equity Bank Group chief executive officer Dr. James Mwangi has been named as the Chancellor of the Open University of Kenya. Ruto also appointed Professor Ezra Maritim as the university council’s chairperson.
Dr. Mwangi was appointed to the role by President Ruto when he launched and gave the Charter to Kenya’s first virtual university.
“By the requirements of the law, I William Samoei Ruto, the President of Kenya and Commander in Chief of the Armed forces, satisfied that the awarding of charter to the Open University of Kenya will be of benefit to the advancement of the University Education in Kenya,” President Ruto said.
President Ruto also appointed Professor Ezra Maritim as the university council’s chairperson.
“I was very specific when I told CS Machogu who the Chancellor for Open University of Kenya should be because this is a bottom-up institution,” President Ruto said on why he chose Dr. James Mwangi for the role
The varsity will operate under the theme ‘The Innovative University for Inclusive Prosperity’.
“I would like to thank President Ruto for allowing me to serve as the first chancellor of this new university. I’m humbled that you have given me the responsibility to provide this service for this country on your behalf which I humbly accept,” Dr. Mwangi said.
“You have bestowed on me the trust to perform the function of a chancellor just when my service as the chancellor of Meru University has just ended having served from 2013 to 2023. I can assure you that I will bring the insights that I’ve learned to this new university.”
The Open University of Kenya is expected to enroll its first batch of students in September 2023. It is expected to be a welcome relief for students who wish to pursue their studies remotely.
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