Kenyatta University has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening international academic partnerships following engagements with a delegation from East China Normal University (ECNU), China, focused on advancing collaboration in educational technology, artificial intelligence and teacher education.
The eight member delegation, led by PENG Liping, Director of the International Center for Teacher Education, and comprising ZHANG Wei, Executive Director of the UNESCO International Center for ASPnet and Professor at the Institute of Curriculum and Instruction, Li Yan, WANG Ru, WU Lei, LI Gerui, ZHANG Youning and YU Zengyi, was hosted by the School of Education and Lifelong Learning through the Department of Educational Communication and Technology. The delegation met the University’s leadership at the Mandela A Boardroom to deliberate on areas of mutual interest aimed at enhancing teaching, research, innovation and global academic engagement.
Representing the VC, Prof. John Okumu, Prof. James Kung’u welcomed the delegation by highlighting the University’s distinguished legacy as one of Africa’s leading institutions in teacher education and research. He underscored the University’s rich academic heritage, strong culture of innovation and continued investment in producing graduates equipped to address emerging global challenges.
The discussions centred on educational technology and the transformative role of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of learning. Both institutions acknowledged the growing importance of leveraging digital technologies to improve teaching methodologies, strengthen research collaborations and prepare graduates for an increasingly technology driven world.
Dr. Bosibori Oigo, representing Prof. Lucy Kathuri, Director of the Centre for International Programmes and Collaboration, outlined the University’s expanding network of partnerships with institutions across China and the wider Asian region. She noted that these collaborations continue to advance joint research, academic exchanges, capacity building and cross cultural learning, while positioning the University as a preferred destination for international cooperation.
The meeting also brought together Prof. Michael Gicheru, Ag. DVC (Academic), Prof. Samson Ondigi, Executive Dean, School of Education and Lifelong Learning, and Dr. Hamisi Babusa, Chair of the Department of Educational Communication and Technology, who reiterated the School’s commitment to fostering global partnerships that enrich learning experiences and drive educational innovation.
Established in 1951 and based in Shanghai, East China Normal University is one of China’s premier public research universities, internationally recognised for excellence in teacher education, educational research and innovation. As a Double First Class University, ECNU has cultivated an extensive network of international partnerships that promotes collaborative research, faculty and student mobility, and academic excellence.
The engagement reflects Kenyatta University’s strategic commitment to expanding meaningful international collaborations that promote knowledge exchange, advance research and harness emerging technologies to transform higher education and enhance lives.