Nairobi, June 21, 2019 – Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) will continue to support innovation in Kenya’s Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) sector thanks to a brand-new joint initiative. It will work with two Kenyan organizations to fund research at Kenyan TVET institutions that looks at ways to improve skills and employability prospects for Kenya’s youth. 

CICan will work with Kenya’s Linking Industry with Academia (LIWA) and Rift Valley Technical Training Institute (RVTTI) to implement the Supporting Innovation in the Technical and Vocational Education Sector: Towards Productivity and Competitiveness (SITVES) project. This joint initiative will support new or existing innovation centres or research departments in Kenyan TVET institutions to carry out action-based and industry-oriented applied research in conjunction with local hubs, start-ups, SMEs and the private sector.  

 The project was made possible thanks to a $1 million research grant on Promoting Employment, Entrepreneurship and Industry Competitiveness in Kenya, from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC).   

“We look forward to working with our Kenyan partners to help address remaining knowledge gaps in the Kenyan TVET sector”, noted CICan president and CEO Denise Amyot. “I am confident that by working together, we can make Kenyan institutions more innovative and more responsive to the needs of their private sector partners, while improving access to education to all, including young women.”  

The project will be based on three pillars: establishing applied research hubs in collaboration with industry and local government, promoting gender equality in TVET by reviewing policies and designing appropriate resources, and encouraging competitive action research that is problem-based and contributes to local community development. It will leverage the expertise of Canadian colleges and institutes who regularly work with local businesses to develop applied research projects that drive innovation.  

About Colleges and Institutes Canada: 

Colleges and Institutes Canada is the voice of Canada’s publicly-supported colleges, institutes, cegeps and polytechnics, and an international leader in education for employment with ongoing programs in over 25 countries. CICan’s members add over $190B to Canada’s economy each year and contribute to inclusive economic growth by working with industry and community partners to offer more than 10,000 programs to learners in urban, rural, remote, and northern communities. 

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For more information:

Julien Abord-Babin
Senior Strategic Communications Officer
Colleges and Institutes Canada
jabord-babin@collegesinstitutes.ca
Tel.: 613-746-2222 ext. 3131
Twitter: @CollegeCan