Taking Expertise from Arkansas to the World: University of Arkansas to Collaborate with Kenyan University

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A newly established agreement between the University of Arkansas and a Kenyan university offers the faculty and students of both institutions the opportunity for richer research and learning experiences. Representatives of Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya, visited the University of Arkansas to formally institute a working relationship involving scholarly exchanges, technical assistance and joint research projects.

Chancellor John A. White said, “Our agreement with Kenyatta University is the beginning of a promising new relationship for the University of Arkansas. The ties we are forging offer faculty and students from both institutions a unique opportunity for international scholarly collaboration. In my discussion with the Kenyatta University administrators, I was impressed by their vision for their university and their commitment to extending access to higher education in Kenya.”

Drs. Barbara Hinton, Fredrick Nafukho and Penina Mungania of the department of rehabilitation, human resources and communication disorders fostered the relationship with Kenyatta University. Both Nafukho and Mungania are UA faculty in adult education and alumni of Kenyatta University. Department head Hinton joined them in visiting Nairobi in 2004 to discuss potential collaboration with Kenyatta University faculty and administrators, and she credits their commitment to “give back” to their home university as an important impetus for the exchange.

Hinton said, “Over the last 10 years, the department has successfully served Arkansas with distance-learning programs at the undergraduate and master’s levels. Now we are pleased to have the opportunity to reach out and influence the growth of distance learning in a developing country.”

The UA faculty will be working with their Kenyan colleagues to develop an e-learning curriculum that will allow Kenyatta University to offer distance education from the Nairobi campus to 10 centers throughout their country.

Kenyatta University will use Blackboard, a software platform that supports Web-based courses. In addition to structuring development and delivery of courses, Blackboard will make their company server available to host the distance courses, permitting Kenyatta University to proceed without purchasing a server. Although Blackboard offers initial training in their system, Hinton and Kenyatta University officials are seeking funding for extended training.

During their visit to Nairobi, the UA faculty presented a development model to a meeting of the deans of Kenyatta University that involves conducting a needs assessment and prioritizing requirements. They also drew on their experience with distance learning in Arkansas to suggest staffing and equipment necessary for 10 distant centers.

Hinton said, “In addition to the technical challenges in helping Kenya develop its educational system, this international exchange with Kenyatta University is a priceless opportunity for our faculty and students to increase cultural understandings and broaden perspectives.”