Inoorero University, ILO to train entrepreneurs

By Eric Akasa

Inoorero University (IU) has partnered with the International Labour Organisation to promote entrepreneurship in Kenya.

The two have developed the Practical Entrepreneurship Training (PET) course to be offered starting January 2013 in partnership with the International Labour Organisation – Youth Enterprise Facility (ILO –YEF). Inoorero University Vice Chancellor Prof Henry Thairu said the programme will be offered through the university’s Regional Centre for Enterprise Development (RCED) to complement its business mentorship training.

Speaking during the institution’s fourth graduation on Saturday, which saw the first batch of degree students graduate since Inoorero was upgraded to university status in 2009, Prof Thairu said the course will respond to high demand for entrepreneurship training in the country.

 “This programme will be offered throughout the country,” notes Prof Thairu. “It will also target those interested in learning about entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs wishing to improve their business and management skills.” Thairu Adds.

Four hundred and forty six students were awarded degree and diploma certificates from the university’s schools of Law, Business and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and the university’s Executive MBA in Leadership and International Business Development.

The university’s Chancellor, F. T. Nyammo said Inoorero’s focus on enterprise development has differentiated it in training job creators rather than job seekers. The university has positioned itself as a technology and enterprise university.

Mr Tony Mwai, General Manager IBM East Africa, who was the guest speaker, challenged graduates to use their skills to solve problems and make a difference in their organizations. “Let us think about what innovation we are going to create, because sustainable growth is going to be based on skills,” said Mr Mwai. “It is also important to note that skills can depreciate if we do not upgrade them as the world is fast changing; bringing to focus the importance of enterprise and ICT driven universities like IU.” Mwai Observes.

Early this year, Inoorero, in response to the need to bring higher education closer to the people, launched a Virtual Campus, which has already enrolled over 350 students studying online from different parts of the world. It recently also launched a Digital Teacher Training Centre, in partnership with Othaya Teachers Training College, to train teachers on the use of ICT in their teaching. The ICT Based Teaching and Information Management programme is also offered at the university and in partnership with other teachers training institutions, and helps teachers take advantage of the digitized curriculum and learning material developed by Kenya Institute of Education (KIE).

Inoorero has also established the Centre for Research, Teaching and Learning, which unlike the traditional lecture based learning, has adopted the Problem Based Learning (PBL), a new learning method that gives more focus on students’ involvement in class.

“This particular method makes learning relevant, providing an active learning experience rather than focusing on learning as a passive activity. It increases learners’ motivation to engage in meaningful research, and by collaborating with internationally recognised partners to generate, preserve, and transfer knowledge,” said Prof. Thairu. “The learners are also able to solve problems they are likely to face in their work environment in future, in any part of the world.”He concludes.