欧美视频

Students at the Missouri Innovation Center in Lee's Summit, MO, connect with students in Kenya via video conference in 2019.

 

Representatives from the 欧美视频 (UCM) and the Government of Makueni County-Kenya, a member of the South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc (SEKEB) and Global Classroom Exchange (GCE) celebrated a unique international partnership at a Jan. 8 virtual event. The early morning Zoom session included representatives from the university, Government of Makueni County-Kenya, the Economic Bloc and Global Classroom Exchange.

 

Officials were the governor of Makueni County, Hon. Professor Kivutha Kibwana; Dr. Phil Bridgmon, UCM provost and vice president for Academic Affairs; Dr. Laurel Hogue, vice provost for UCM Extended Studies; and John Musau, founder and CEO of Global Classroom Exchange.

 

鈥淔rom our experience when we came to the university, the focus is really on the students,鈥� said Kibwana during the virtual signing. 鈥淓ven more exciting is creating this new nuance in education, this virtual education.鈥�

 

Critical aspects of the partnership include leveraging technology to enhance academic learning, developing career pathways with joint workforce programs for global markets and establishing dual credit and concurrent programs with Makueni County-Kenya, Hogue said. 鈥淭oday is the result of a lot of work and collaboration, and we are really excited about the work ahead,鈥� she added.

 

The initiative is resulting in meaningful collaboration and project-based learning, Musau said. 鈥淲e talk about having borders, and we talk about creating opportunities and sometimes those two don鈥檛 go hand-in-hand. I feel this is one opportunity for us to make a difference.鈥�

 

Also attending the ceremony was Rick MDowell of the Lee鈥檚 Summit Economic Development Council. 鈥淲orkforce is a major initiative for Lee鈥檚 Summit and the regional area in Kansas City,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ow we see this as throughout the world as a major initiative.鈥�

 

Through the partnership, UCM Extended Studies will work with the university鈥檚 Kenyan peers on education and workforce development. The partners are leveraging technology to foster global collaboration in resolving local challenges. The organizations are working together to develop real-world sustainable solutions for students and adults. Students will also gain hands-on experiences in areas such as Internet of Things, virtual reality, telehealth and entrepreneurship -- just to name a few -- while working on industry-recognized certifications and accelerated degree programs.

 

鈥淭his is an important engagement in workforce development that will provide career pathways in an area that is growing and emerging,鈥� said Dr. Phil Bridgmon, UCM provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

 

The partnership鈥檚 foundation began in 2019 with Summit Technology Academy (Lee鈥檚 Summit R-7 School District) meeting virtually with students in Kenya to become acquainted and begin planning their combined efforts. During fall 2019, Kenya Governor Kivutha Kibwana and a delegation from Kenya visited Lee鈥檚 Summit to tour the Missouri Innovation Campus and meet with officials from UCM and Summit Technology Academy.

 

This new partnership has benefitted from the involvement of Digloso Ltd, a company focusing on providing emerging populations with technological infrastructure and modular application platforms. Digloso is headquartered in Kenya.

 

Business, individuals and organizations have the opportunity to collaborate in the project, which is actively seeking partners to help with solutions. For more information, contact Joe Mullins at jmullins@ucmo.edu or Dr. Laurel Hogue at lhogue@ucmo.edu.

 

The 欧美视频 operates campuses in Lee鈥檚 Summit and Warrensburg, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as certificate programs, professional education courses and customized corporate curriculum. UCM and Summit Technology Academy have shared space and resources in the award-winning Missouri Innovation Campus facility since its opening in fall 2017. The South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc includes three counties: Kitui, Machakos and Makueni with a combined estimated population of 4.7 million. The Bloc was created to provide social and economic development for its citizens.