A team from the AgriOPEN Project comprising the DVC (AFP), Prof. Patience Mshenga, Dr. Isaac Gitogo and Mr. Silas Wataki recently undertook a five-day governance workshop and benchmarking visit to Finland to gain insights into Finnish approaches to open education and inform the development of the AgriOPEN Campus (AOC) platform in Kenya.
The workshop brought together representatives from the Ministry of Education, the University of Nairobi, Laikipia University, NHL Stenden, Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK), South Eastern Kenya University, Egerton University and the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA).
The visit focused on benchmarking Finnish practices in open education governance, accreditation, certification, recognition of learning, quality assurance, digital platforms, financial sustainability, collaboration and flexible modes of educational delivery.
During the visit, the delegation engaged with several Finnish education institutions, including the Ministry of Education and Culture, Finnish Education Evaluation Centre, Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI), CSC IT Center for Science, and Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK). These engagements provided an opportunity to understand how Finland has developed systems and platforms that support accessible, flexible and quality assured education.
A key component of the visit was the engagement with HAMK, where the delegation explored the Open University model and different approaches to online and blended learning. The team also visited the Mustiala Campus, where they interacted with staff and international students in the Climate Smart Agriculture programme. The visit demonstrated how digital learning can be complemented with hands on practical training and flexible assessment approaches.
The experiences and lessons gained during the visit will contribute to the ongoing development of the AgriOPEN Campus platform, which is at the core of the AgriOPEN Project. The platform seeks to expand access to Agriculture and Entrepreneurship education in Kenya through flexible and innovative approaches to learning.
The visit also provided an important opportunity for knowledge sharing and collaboration between Kenyan and Finnish education stakeholders. The AgriOPEN team will use the lessons gained to identify relevant Finnish best practices and contextualize them to the Kenyan higher education environment.
Laikipia University appreciates the Finnish institutions and partners for their hospitality, knowledge sharing and support throughout the visit. The team returns to Kenya with valuable insights and renewed commitment to advancing open education and expanding opportunities for learners.
AgriOPEN is an EU co funded project aimed at contributing to more accessible and innovative Agriculture and Entrepreneurship education in Kenya.
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