State University of New York, Cortland/University of Nairobi
Country:
Kenya
Award Date:
1999
Award Amount:
$100,000.00
Cost Share:
$89,505.00
Other Partners:
Africa Nazarene University; Broome County Community College; Catholic University of Eastern Africa/Baraton; College of Environmental Science and Forestry; Daystar University; Egerton University; Empire State College; Eveready Batteries; Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology; Kenya Agricultural Research Institute; Kenya Association of Manufacturers; Kenya Management Assistance Programme; Kenya Medical Research Institute; Kenya Ministries of Education and Health; Kenya Polytechnic; Kenya Technical Teachers College; Kenyatta University; Methodist University at Baraton; Moi University; Mombasa Polytechnic; Murang’a College of Technology; Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology; Tompkins Cortland Community College; United States International University/Africa; USAID/Kenya; U.S. Embassy/Nairobi
This partnership introduced the U.S. community college model into the Kenyan system of higher education to increase access to postsecondary education and to help produce a better educated workforce. The vice president of Kenya opened a two-week conference in Kenya, convened by the partners, to assess the country’s educational needs. The conference attracted 70 participants, including faculty and administrators from six U.S. and 11 Kenyan higher education institutions, government leaders, and representatives of local nongovernmental organizations and businesses.
A second conference at the State University of New York at Cortland (SUNY-Cortland) produced three broad course outlines in the areas of community health education (including HIV/AIDS), natural resources management, and microenterprise development. Participants also discussed a request from the government of Kenya for SUNY to expand its involvement in Kenya’s higher education system, and outlined strategies for introducing critical thinking and the use of distance education.