Egerton University Distance Learning

Egerton University Distance Learning, below is the information on the Egerton University Distance Learning.

The College of Open and Distance Learning (CODL) was established in 2002. The mandate of CODL is to develop, co-ordinate, promote and manage all open and distance learning programmes of Egerton University. Its Vision is to be anational and regional centre of excellence and choice for open and distance learning programmes. CODL is headed by a Director who is answerable to the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs and has four departments each headed by a coordinator.

Vision

To be a national and regional centre of excellence in, and first choice for distance learning and research.

Mission

Expanding access to quality and affordable higher education for Kenyans.
Improve the quality of primary and secondary education, through research and enhanced access to Continuing Professional Development by teachers.
Establish collaborations and partnerships with local and international institutions to develop, sustain and enhance appropriate and effective distance learning systems and personnel.
Select, develop and utilize appropriate media and technologies for teaching, learning, assessment and evaluation in distance learning.
Integrate with the local community through provision of service and consultancy.

Core Functions

In an effort to expand access to Higher Education (see Egerton University’s Strategic Plan – 2005 – 2015 Strategic Objective No. 1). Egerton University is gradually adopting a dual mode in teaching/learning. This is largely in response to the growing number of Kenyans seeking access to higher education, but who may not afford face-to-face instruction. The most active programme so far is teacher education which started in 2002, now with a population of 800 students. Plans are underway to launch pure Distance Learning programmes.

In an attempt to achieve the foregoing objective, CODL has been mandated through strategic (see Egerton University’s Strategic Plan 2005/2015) to promote and facilitate the expansion of open and distance education.

This will be realized through the following strategies:

Capacity building and enhancement on material development,student services, and Open and Distance Learning research.
Support of the infrastructure development at CODL and the ACDE secretariat.

Further, Strategic Objective No.10 gives CODL the mandate to increase access to higher education by implementing the following strategies:

Development of new demand-driven Self-sponsored programmes.
Increase of the intake of students in Self-sponsored Programmes on non-residential basis.

Besides increasing access, quality and relevance of higher education in Kenya the foregoing strategic objectives will go a long way to expanding the student numbers and in turn improve the financial base of the University.

Strategic aims of the College

The strategic aim of the College of Open and Distance Learning is to strengthen Egerton University’s position as the leading provider of distance learning in Kenya and the Eastern Africa region by:

Responding to and stimulating further demand for higher education.
Providing learners with the best possible learning experience through the use of appropriate and effective teaching and learning media and support services that enhance the quality of education and training; and
Enhancing the university’s position as a financially sound and stable institution that has financial resources necessary for delivering its mission.

Roles

The College of Open and Distance Learning is charged with the following core functions:

Facilitate the development of programmes and delivery strategies for education and training through open and distance learning.
Develop, implement and manage learning support systems and services, including community-based learning centers.
Facilitate and promote research in open and distance education, and promote the dissemination and application of findings thereto.
Develop collaboration and partnerships with local, regional and international open and distance learning institutions, organizations and relevant stakeholders.

CODL is made up of the following four departments each of which is headed by a Coordinator

PARTNERSHIPS

Local Partnerships
The College of Open and Distance Learning (CODL) has entered into partnership with Department of Defence. In this partnership CODL is offering training to
Military Staff who wish to further their education. Currently Diploma programmes in Military Science are being offered and Bachelor of Science (Military Science)
Programmes.

International Linkages
The College of Open and Distance Learning has established linkages with lead distance learning institutions in Africa and the UK. In Africa, we have signed a
Memorandum of Agreement with the University of South Africa (UNISA) which provides for capacity building, staff and student exchange, joint research, as well
as sharing of resources in the development of distance learning materials.

This collaboration has been instrumental in the conceptualization and formation of a Continecontal Universities Association of Distance Learning. The African Council for Distance Education (ACDE) was launched in January 2004 at Egerton University.

Through this collaboration, Egerton has managed to train 60 lecturers and professors on the writing of distance learning materials. As a result of the development of distance learning materials the College is anticipating to launch Undergraduate Teacher Education programmes in Science, Arts and in Agricultural Education & Extension in April, 2010.

Moreover, through the existing collaboration with UNISA, in which Egerton University offers tutorial and administrative support, the following distance learning UNISA programmes are now offered to Kenyans:

Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)
Bachelor of Information (B. Information) Library and Information studies)

Bachelor of Arts with specialization in the following areas:

Development Studies
International Relations and Diplomacy
Community Development
Bachelor of Arts (Policing), BA (Police) (Criminology)
Bachelor of Law (LLB) e.t.c

Also with collaboration with the Open University of Tanzania (OUT), the College on behalf of Egerton University offers various undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes namely:-

Bachelor of Arts (BA Gen)
Bachelor of Arts with Education (BA Ed)
Bachelor of Arts in Tourism Studies (BA Tourism)
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology (BA Sociology)
Bachelor of Arts in Social Work
Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication
M.A. in linguistic – MA (Ling)
M.A. in Economics – MA (Econ)
Master of Community Economic Development (CED)
M.A. Social Work – MA (SW) (Evening Programme) e.t.c.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

In the UK, we have collaboration with the Open University of UK, which is the premier distance teaching and Open University world-wide that has not only done lead research in open and distance learning but also published highly reputable interactive distance learning materials.

Egerton University Distance Learning