The university recently hosted a comprehensive virtual workshop aimed at familiarizing academic staff with competency-based education and training (CBET). The two-day event, held on February 8th and 9th, 2024, saw participation from both permanent and part-time faculty members across various departments.
The workshop, organized by the university-wide committee on competency-based education, was officially inaugurated by Prof. Julius Kipkemboi, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academics, Student Affairs, and Research. Dr. Jane Imbunya led the workshop as the lead facilitator, alongside Dr. Metrine Sulungai and Dr. Agrrey Amugune. The sessions were moderated by Dr. S. Maragia, Dean of the School of Education and Social Sciences, and Dr. J. Amunga, from the School of Arts and Humanities.
On the first day, discussions revolved around the theme "CBC Redefining Curriculum Instruction," focusing on the final expected performance. Key sub-themes included understanding the changes in the Kenyan educational landscape due to CBC, the guiding principles of CBC within CBET, and strategies for assessment and instructional design to foster 21st-century skills.
The second day centered on "Aligning University Education to CBE," delving into topics such as the theoretical frameworks of CBET, the incorporation of 21st-century skills into university curricula, and the use of revised Bloom's Taxonomy in curriculum design. Additionally, the sessions addressed issues concerning formative and summative assessment within CBET, as well as emerging challenges and practices related to continuous assessment tests (CATs) and continuous assessment tasks (CATTs).
The workshop concluded with remarks from Prof. M.M. Amadalo, emphasizing the importance of embracing CBET principles to enhance the quality of education offered by the university. Participants left the workshop equipped with valuable insights and strategies to integrate competency-based education into their teaching practices, ultimately contributing to the holistic development of students in line with evolving educational paradigms.