The Global Knowledge Initiative Announces Partnership with the Victoria Institute of Science and Technology, Kenya

Something exciting is happening on the shores of Lake Victoria. In Kisumu, Kenya a new research and training institution–the Victoria Institute of Science and Technology (VIST)–is coming to life.  VIST’s mission is brazen: to train the future leaders of African technology-based enterprises using a totally new approach to teaching and learning. To do this, VIST is fostering an entrepreneurial culture on the campus that will specialize in training and research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The focus will be on equipping students to surmount the challenges related to sustainable development, while deploying a range of technologies to connect VIST to collaborators who can help.

In several respects VIST constitutes a cutting edge institution for training, research, and collaboration, not just in the East African context but on a global scale.  First, VIST is developing multiple centers of excellence in multimedia technology, biotechnology, transportation, green technology, and policy and law.  These centers will evolve into the equivalent of faculties as VIST matures. 

The Green Campus Development Initiative

VIST will also lead other institutions on the continent by incorporating the latest innovations in science and technology into the creation of the campus itself.   Through its “Green Campus Development Initiative,” the campus construction embodies the latest design criteria to ensure the least possible carbon footprint.  The principles of green design will constitute a series of courses on “Green Innovation.”   The VIST facilities themselves will serve as educational material.   

Greening the VIST campus differentiates the university from many of its peers.  Most efforts to green campuses are in industrialized countries. According to Grist, only one developing country university (EARTH University, Costa Rica) ranked among the top 15 green campuses worldwide in 2007.

Parlaying the latest advances in open educational resources into the development of the institution, VIST is adopting an “open classroom” model.  This model allows other universities, enterprises and the general public to use the campus and its resources as a “working laboratory.”

The Global Knowledge Initiative is proud to announce its partnership with the Victoria Institute of Science and Technology.  The Global Knowledge Initiative will be working with VIST stakeholders to aid in developing elements of their curricula, recruit faculty and administrative support, and develop collaborative research projects with the institution.  Learn more about the Global Knowledge Initiative’s partnership initiatives here.

Origins of the Victoria Institute of Science and Technology

The idea of creating VIST originates from persistent concerns over the fate of Lake Victoria and the surrounding populations. Lake Victoria–shared between Kenya (6%), Tanzania (51%) and Uganda (43%)–is the world’s second largest freshwater lake, covering 68,800 square kilometeres.  Its catchment area supports about 35 million people, nearly a third of the populations of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. It is estimated that nearly 3 million people earn their living directly or indirectly from the lake’s fish industry, whose overall annual production is about 400-500 metric tons.

The lake region depends on the fishing industry.  Population pressure, industrial activities and ecological change each threaten the fish stock.  Specifically, inflow of residues from chemical herbicides, pesticides and heavy metals resulting from gold mining operations deteriorate the health of the lake upon which the fish depend.

Perhaps the most dramatic change in the lake region is the prevalence of poverty and the associated challenges of epidemics (HIV/AIDS, malaria, typhoid and cholera) and ecological degradation.  Nearly half of the people in the region are classified as poor.  Poverty is associated with low skill levels, undercapitalization of businesses, poor infrastructure, disease, and lack of education that undermine social welfare.

Addressing these challenges requires improvement in the skill level of the population, enhancement of entrepreneurial capabilities and greater knowledge of the natural resources in the region.  “We address these challenges at VIST by helping to foster business development, providing experiential education and conducting research,” Calestous Juma explains, one of the champions behind VIST.

With the full support of the Global Knowledge Initiative and Kenya’s Commission for Higher Education, VIST is poised to be Africa’s first entrepreneurial university.  The institution plans to enroll its first class of students in January 2010. 

Contributors:  Dr. Calestous Juma and Amanda Lilley