Aiming towards Lifelong Learning by adding an eCampus to a Kenyan University

Abstract

AIMING TOWARDS LIFE LONG LEARNING BY ADDING AN ECAMPUS TO A KENYAN UNIVERSITY D. Stern1, B. Ogange1, M. Ayere1, R. Kim2 1Maseno University (KENYA) 2Columbia University (UNITED STATES) In September 2011 Maseno University launched eLearning degrees to the Kenyan education market. This is the beginning of an initiative that aims to broaden access to education and provide the skills needed for Kenya to compete in the global economy. it has been recognised for many years that Africa needs to embrace eLearning to bridge the development gap. Previous attempts to implement eLearning in Maseno have been an expensive and frustrating experience for all involved. This paper describe the current initiative, along with the current content development plans and the long term vision. As Maseno is a public Kenyan University the eLearning directorate must be at least cost recovery and ideally generate a surplus. The plan is for eLearning to provide higher education at all academic levels for distance or part time learners and for this to feed back into the face to face education creating an improved blended environment for the full time students. The eCampus has already started to create a community of eStudents who are valuing the skills they acquire more than they value the degree itself. This is part of the promise of eLearning; the creation of a lifelong learning culture, where people continually 'learn, unlearn and relearn'.