On Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 9:21 PM, Harry Delano <harry@comtelsys.co.ke> wrote:

John W,

I agree with you to an extend. However, I feel that clustering of all these disciplines in one particular curriculum, either way or Cramming

one course with all that can possibly be taught in class, and meet what the employer might be seeking for may not be practical in the long

run. Infact this seems to be the case with the current curricula, where most of the disciplines within the current course outlines really never

get applied anywhere. This is wasted knowledge. Just like, much of the physics and the Chemistry you and me learnt in High school may

just have been a real total 'waste' of time, effort, and money. It might only serve to create some walking encyclopedias with knowledge that

never gets applied. Let us develop Specialized Training Curriculas way before even the university entry..

Muthoni, if you would ask me, I would recommend that even before you overhaul the current University curriculum, a crucial section of

stakeholders that comprise the High School, and probably the upper primary School fraternity, need to be brought into the fold in order to

develop and adopt what I would call a "Bottoms-up" approach in arriving at curriculum that flows right through the entire Education system

as currently structured, with vision 2030 in mind.

Of course the other end of the production - The employers, who are consumers of the Finished products, are equally important, but also

will need to make "Realistic" demands on the graduands.. When you demand that you need graduates who have done computer Science,

Electronic Engineering etc, all compressed in one, it tends to lock out deserving prospects for the job. It may be cost-saving to look at it

that way but in the long run it won't augur well for skills development that we have at our disposal.

Please cast the net far and wide, it's just as a multistakeholder issue, at hand, just as the Constitutional Review is..

Regards,

Harry

From: kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Walubengo J
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 10:18 AM
To: harry@comtelsys.co.ke
Cc: skunk; waema@uonbi.ac.ke; moturi; sci-acad@uonbi.ac.ke; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions

Subject: Re: [kictanet] The Premier B.Sc. Computer Science Programme in Kenya

Muthoni M,

I think its good to see Academia going back to the industry to ask for input in curricula development. Previous University Dons would rather claim it was their sole prerogative to say what needs to be taught and when and how it would be taught.

Indeed just looking at the recent post from Eng. Kariuki regarding "ICT Jobs at Huawei" it shows the gap between industry and academia. Whereas most ICT University Curricula continues to be strictly segmented along EITHER "Computer Science/Info Technology" OR "Electrical/Telco Engineering" most employers seem to be looking for BOTH CompScience/IT and Engineering components from their candidates.

The Challenge then becomes, should IT students be taught some Telco-engineering concepts or Should Electrical and other Engineers be taught IT concepts? I know I have not answered your question regarding inputs for the Computers Science program, but it is just that your question provokes more questions than answers...

walu.

--- On Tue, 11/10/09, Muthoni Masinde <muthoni@uonbi.ac.ke> wrote:

From: Muthoni Masinde <muthoni@uonbi.ac.ke>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] The Premier B.Sc. Computer Science Programme in Kenya
To: jwalu@yahoo.com
Cc: "moturi" <moturi@uonbi.ac.ke>, "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>, "sci-acad@uonbi.ac.ke" <sci-acad@uonbi.ac.ke>, waema@uonbi.ac.ke
Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 2:39 PM

Dear Nancy,
I agree with you; we actually review our curriculum every 4 years; the
current one is 4 years old and that is why we are reviewing it. We have
always done it through the approach you have described but this time round,
we would like to incorporate stakeholders views. Quality assurance issues
are well taken care of.

The issue of specialisation from 2nd year seems to be favoured by many and
we consider this.

Thank you very much for the comments and indeed I will be glad to receive
more ideas from ICSIT-JKUAT.

Best regards,
Muthoni

On 11/10/09 12:03 AM, "n_macharia@yahoo.co.uk" <n_macharia@yahoo.co.uk>
wrote:

> Muthoni,
>
> This is a brilliant idea. In my view you benefit by eliciting very valuable
> and resourceful ideas for the Curriculum from experienced and sharpened staff.
>
> An all stakeholder involvement in either curriculum review or development is
> an IUCEA and CHE requirement. Its the right process for both academic quality
> assurance and towards offering demand driven(ICT industry, Kenyas vision 2030)
> and custom built training.
>
> The revision is long overdue. In any case the requirement is one cycle which
> is in the period of five yrs.
>
> On CS, the direction focus should be specialisation from 2nd Year of study
> after the foundation units.
>
> We in academia, believe in sharing "cable", here knowledge and ideas. Will
> share this with ICSIT colleagues in JKUAT and come back to you.
>
> Nancy Macharia
> Deputy Director
> ICSIT JKUAT
> Sent from my BlackBerry®
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tuma Barua <tumabarua@gmail.com>
> Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 17:19:40
> To: <n_macharia@yahoo.co.uk>
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>;
> moturi<moturi@uonbi.ac.ke>; <waema@uonbi.ac.ke>
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] The Premier B.Sc. Computer Science Programme in Kenya
>
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