In addition to its catalogue of courses offered, the Open University of Kenya has introduced 10 new academic programs and 8 free courses.
The decision was driven by the necessity of providing knowledge in emerging fields, preparing students for the job market and consequently bridging the technological gap in Kenya.
OUK Acting VC Prof Elijah Omwenga made the announcement during an unveiling ceremony of two digital education centres in collaboration with the Open University of China and Donghua University.
He noted that the newly launched programs have been distributed across 4 faculties; School of Agriculture, School of Business and Economics, School of Education and School of Science and Technology.
The academic courses are:
- Bachelor of Agricultural Technology and Food Systems
- Bachelor of Economics and Data Science
- Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computing
- Postgraduate Diploma in Education
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Masters in Learning Design and Technology
- Master of Data Science
- Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence
- Master of Science in Cyber Security and Digital Forensics
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration
Furthermore, the virtual learning institution has introduced 8 professional development courses for students, including some that are free of charge.
They include:
- Mental Health Awareness
- Gender and Diversity
- Emotional Intelligence
- Corporate Governance
- Business Modelling for Entrepreneurs
- Accountability Fundamentals
- E-learning Essentials for Online Engagement
- Online Assessment.
“We started with seven programmes, and now we are launching 10 academic programmes…The programmes will also increase student enrolment and strengthen OUK’s position as a leader in digital education, hence creating greater impact in shaping the future of higher education in Kenya,” Prof Omwenga stated.
OUK: List of courses offered, admission requirements of Kenya’s virtual institution
Some key concerns about OUK’s welfare were raised by the Acting VC, including its inabiity to raise enough capital that would enable it to hire teaching and training experts.
“We have faced financial challenges with financial resources, especially when we have to pay the experts and experts here are professors. We have not been able to pay them within the demands of the market price because they are quite expensive. So we have had to go to a mutual agreement so that they can participate in the formation of this university,” he noted.
Since the university was launched in 2023, it has had an enrolment of 2,500 students. Learners are expected to increase with the rollout of new courses offered.
Deputy Vice Chancellor Carolyne Omulando stated that OUK had began wide consultations to aid in the development of new programmes aligned with Kenya’s market demands.
“We ensured that these programmes align with market demands and technological evolution. This commitment to relevance and quality underscores OUK’s dedication to providing accessible, high-quality education through digital learning,” she said.
