Kenya Coast Polytechnic breaking new grounds with EASTRIP support

 For the less than eight years he has been a lecturer at the Kenya Coast National Polytechnic (KCNP), Albert Ogaye has risen from being an ordinary trainer to a deputy head of department to a head of department.

The head of the department of Business Studies and Entrepreneurship for the last three years joined the institution in 2018, but his notable rise has not happened out of luck, or favoritism, but out of a combination of merit driven by a strong desire to self-improve.

It all started in 2021 when he won a scholarship to undertake a Masters of Business Administration degree at China’s Dalian Maritime University a task he completed in 2023 and returned to the institution, not only a more educated and qualified person, but as a more enlightened and exposed trainer.

“At the university I was in a class of 23 with a number of African students including a Ugandan and even though English was the language of instruction, I learnt the Chinese language despite the culture shock” he said.

One of the biggest observations was the Chinese attachment and the importance their culture places on values such as integrity, something that really impressed him.

But it is in how teaching is done at the university that really impressed, one of the most prominent practices being the integration of ICT in learning, and the heavy emphasis on practicals in every lesson.

“The Chinese classes are largely practical, with a lot of stimulators and computers involved. They are very automated with lots of demonstrations taking place. Every lesson and every new thing taught is stimulated for students to get a good grasp of new concepts,” he observed.

This has now turned out to be one his biggest imports from China for his students, and while simulators and some practical lessons may not be possible for his classes, he always makes sure that his teaching method brings learners as close as possible to reality.

“I have since learnt using experiential learning in my lessons using things like online videos and videos in order to make them more practical and realistic. I’m also a more research- oriented teacher because for a concept to be well understood by students, you need to be more comprehensive while teaching,” Ogaye explained.

After the successful completion of the MBA program in 2023, he has now applied and obtained a scholarship to support him undertake a doctorate in port management, and is due back to Dalian University soon as a supervisor for his studies is available.

The lecturer’s relationship with the Chinese university did not just happen. it was the most appropriate for his benefactor, the World Bank-sponsored East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP).

The EASTRIP, hosted by the Inter-University Council for East Africa, has three components. These include strengthening selected RFTIs for developing skills in priority sectors; creating “nationally enabling environments” for technical and vocational education and training (TVET); and enhancing regional collaboration in TVET and project coordination.

It is training technicians and teachers at certificate, diploma, and degree levels in regional priority sectors of transport, energy, agriculture, manufacturing and ICT.

The project has since 2018 been supporting the KCNP, after it was competitively selected as a Regional Flagship Training Institute (RFTI) in Marine Transport and Port Logistics.

The KCNP was selected to the ESTRIP initiative alongside 15 other RFTIs in Tanzania, Kenya, and Ethiopia jointly benefiting from US$293 million in World Bank International Development Association (IDA) support, for the development of highly specialized TVET programs, as well as industry-recognized, short-term, certificate-level training among others.

Part of the benefits include upgrading of trainers of RFTIs and it is through this facet of the project that Ogaye won the MBA scholarship that has brought him thus far.

For the lecturer however, he has not stopped there as he is due to go back to Dalian for a PhD program in port Management as soon as the university is able to allocate him a supervisor.

The KCNP, a public Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institution in Mombasa Country on the Kenyan coast has under EASTRIP positioned itself as an emerging regional center of excellence for maritime and blue-economy skills, says Kevin Ochieng the EASTRIP center leader at the institution.

“The Polytechnic has expanded maritime-focused, acquired modern maritime simulators and equipment. It has also developed 11 market-driven CBET programs against a target of nine, and strengthened industry and regional links to train technicians, seafarers and related professionals” he noted.

In addition, it has registered a trainees’ growth rate of 151% from 73 to 1,983 and enrolled 115 international students strengthening regional integration while strengthening its profile, a major objective of ESTRIP.

“Quite significantly the KCNP has also conducted seven tracer studies showing an overall graduate employment rate of 80.3pc, with a female of 76.4pc, ” he added. This is besides formalizing partnerships including ten Memorandums of Understanding established with regional TVETs and maritime academies Tanzania’s National Industrial Training NIT and Kenya’s Bandari Maritime Academy,” he offered.

Also thanks to EASTRIP they have facilitated trainer industrial attachments, and international students’ exchanges, enhancing mobility in the process, while improving cross-border technical standards and pedagogy, the center head further explained.

The efforts are further boosted by procurement of a Learning Management System, that has also helped the polytechnic begin offering online programs, enabling wider regional access, and entrenching blended learning, Ochieng added.

Significantly the KNCP is constructing a new maritime campus in the neighboring Kwale County which is nearing completion, and which is expected to ease congestion at the current main campus located at the center of Mombasa city of the construction works done, Chief Principal Geoffrey Andama told KBC Digital.

When complete the campus will have three main facilities including a maritime center, a catering center and an International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarer (STCW) training pool, all achieved at an estimated cost of Ksh600 million EASTRIP financing.  The latter is a mandatory sea safety course for all seafarers integrated in all marine courses. Also included are laboratories, workshops and offices.

Students at Kenya Coast Polytechnic using new equipment for practical lessons. The equipment have been purchased with the financing of EASTRIP.

The principal however regrets that the money is not enough to build hostels for students, something necessary since the location is more than 20 kilometres from town. Also critical but not funded under the project are conferencing and accommodation facilities which when available would help the campus raise external money for its own sustainability.

“We had requested these facilities when applying for EASTRIP financing but they were not included under this phase of financing. It is for this reason that we are appealing for EASTRIP II round of funding, so that we can have them, and in order for us to have a complete self-sustaining campus,” he pleaded.

To achieve this KNCP has appointed an Industry Advisory Board (IAB) composed of representatives from the marine, the hospitality, shipping, clearing and forwarding industries and relevant professional organizations, with expertise in the skills and competencies needed to offer advice in maritime programs.

The IAB he said has a strong industry representation of nearly 86% to help align curricula and training to regional labor needs. It has a chairman drawn from the industry and a secretary representing the KCNP, he explained.

“The purpose of the board is to provide expert strategic advice on to programs being developed, assessment of the students in line with the CBET framework and policy guidelines, and assist with the selection of the equipment acquired under the project and facilitate programs such as attachment and internships for both staff and students”, the Principal explained.

Overall he notes the EASTRIP project has increased the regional and international visibility of the KCNP, hosting students from Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan, and allowed partnership with Finland’s Aboa Mare Maritime Academy and Training Center which has supported it in curriculum development.

The partnership with the Finnish university has besides helped in establishing helpful linkages in staff and students exchange helping building the capacity of trainers.