University of Nairobi among varsities to roll out PBL – BioAfrica project in Africa
- George Masila
- November 9, 2020
- Uncategorized
- Bioeconomy, PBL, PBL - BioAfrica
- 0 Comments
The University of Nairobi is among the 3 selected universities in Kenya to roll out the PBL – BioAfrica project in Kenya. Through C4DLab, the University will collaborate with Egerton University and South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) to implement the bioeconomy centered project.
PBL-BioAfrica is a collaborative project for strengthening the capacity in bioeconomy HEIs (Higher Education Institutions) in Kenya and Zambia. The focus is in developing problem-based learning (PBL) methods in bioeconomy education, and utilizing open distance learning (ODL) formats and open education resources (OER) in order to reach large numbers of students in partner HEIs.
The Problem-Based Learning BioAfrica program (PBL-BioAfrica) is designed to collaboratively co-create a change in agricultural education first in Kenya and Zambia, and then more broadly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).In doing this, the project contributes to the HEI-ICI program’s long-term impact by strengthening the capacity of bioeconomy HEIs to provide pedagogically innovative, work-life relevant, and accessible higher education for large student numbers in Sub-Saharan Africa. This impact is enabled by PBL-BioAfrica’s specific outcome, which is improved climate-smart bio-entrepreneurship curricula, teaching, and management capacity in partner HEIs and wider SSA.
Students and graduates will be equipped with work-life relevant and entrepreneurial skills. Close collaboration with the industrial sector is central in order to provide students with real-life learning cases.
Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) will be introduced as the guiding principle in business development. In addition, recognising the role and potential of women in agriculture will improve both equality and economic development.
The Problem-based-learning bioeconomy entrepreneurship and capacity building programme in Africa (PBL-BioAfrica) will be implemented by three partner countries who are Finland, Kenya and Zambia. The project will be coordinated by Häme University of Applied Sciences.
The PBL-BioAfrica project aims to strengthen the networks among HEIs nationally and internationally, as well as with the industrial sector. A network-based learning ecosystem will be established for developing bio-entrepreneurship education in the long term.
