As part of its attempts to improve the digital skills of Kenyan graduates, Microsoft ADC Nairobi stated in…
As part of its attempts to improve the digital skills of Kenyan graduates, Microsoft ADC Nairobi stated in February that it would collaborate with Kenyan technological institutes to examine their curricula and make them more relevant to the technological demands of today’s world.
The company aimed to include Applied Machine Learning, Quantum Computing, Virtual Reality, and User Experience Design in Computer Science programs for several Kenyan higher education institutions.
JKUAT was one of the organizations it has associated with. ADC said that they intended to evaluate the degree curriculum for computer science. Other technical universities that had shown interest in the curriculum review initiative were also anticipated to receive graces from this initiative.
The revised curriculum will influence the delivery of 128 units of computer science and computer technology courses at the institution. The modified curriculum is set to be adopted for pupils starting classes in September 2023.
The updated curriculum would not only incorporate cutting-edge subjects, including applied machine learning, quantum computing, virtual reality, and user experience design, in addition to updating traditional technology principles, but also it would combine tools used in the industry at the educational level to better familiarize students with them before venturing into the workforce.
Below is a statement by Microsoft Nairobi;
The curriculum review process is part of the ADC’s larger goal of catalyzing digital transformation by providing opportunities for skill and practical knowledge acquisition to equip Kenyans to be competitive in the global digital landscape. The updated curriculum will assist in preparing students for the demands of a rapidly changing technology industry by emphasizing practical skill development and simulating real-world experience within the classroom.
Looking at the bright side of this, it was said that similar initiatives for curriculum reform would be introduced and welcomed at other institutions of higher learning. This is a notable attempt to bridge the gap between industry and academia, especially in the technology sector.
The Managing Director of Microsoft ADC, Catherine Muraga, stated: “We are delighted to have partnered with Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in the curriculum review process and have our experts contribute specialized knowledge that will allow for tech industry-ready students and use of improved standards of teaching.”
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What Microsoft ADC curriculum review means for Kenyan techies
According to certain reports, one of the marketable courses in Kenya is computer science. From a more in-depth perspective, these additions to the school curriculum would prepare graduates for the dynamic landscape of the global tech ecosystem.
Technological courses are driving the world, and practically everything revolves around technology. Nothing beats being on time and staying up to date. For Kenyans, this would allow kids to gain a wide range of experience and talents, and incorporating those courses into their curriculum at such an early stage would be more of a preparation for the advances that await them outside the classroom walls.
About Microsoft ADC Nairobi
Microsoft launched the Africa Development Center (ADC) in 2019 with an initial site in Lagos, Nigeria and another in Nairobi, Kenya. The presence of ADC serves as an anchor for developers and a source of skill and ability for developers worldwide. Microsoft Kenyan office supports the following East African states; Ethiopia, Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, Eritrea, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.
Read More; Microsoft to Establish Africa Development Centers and Employ 500 Developers in Lagos and Nairobi