JKUAT Staff Enhance AI Expertise at Microsoft Educators Bootcamp – Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

*One of the participants makes a point as Prof. Muliaro (left) and Mr. Andrew Beltany(right) look on during the interactive session.*

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to reshape industries, JKUAT has taken a significant step in equipping its academic staff with the essential skills needed in this rapidly evolving field, ensuring they are prepared to guide students for future success.

In relation to this, JKUAT hosted a two-day Microsoft Learn for Educators AI boot-camp on December 13th and 14th, 2024, specifically designed for faculty members from the School of Computing and Information Technology(SCIT).

The program fully funded by Microsoft, equipped the educators with cutting-edge skills to enhance their teaching and inspire students in this era of AI.

As the first university in Central and East Africa to participate in this initiative, JKUAT is now in a strong position to seamlessly integrate AI into its curriculum. This will ensure students are empowered with the AI skills required to thrive in an increasingly digital world and prepare them for future job markets.

The university was also honored to have Dr. Lawrence Nderu, Chair of the Department of Computing, participate in the pilot phase of the program. His involvement underscores JKUAT’s commitment to innovation and academic excellence.

During the boot-camp, JKUAT provided comprehensive, hands-on experiences and valuable resources, ensuring participants gained the skills and knowledge needed for success in the tech industry.

Mr. Andrew Beltany, a Microsoft education consultant and the lead trainer for the Microsoft Learn for Educators program, guided the lecturers on how to connect to the platform and navigate the various resources available in the learning portal, including certification opportunities.

Prof. Joseph Muliaro, an Associate Professor in SCIT, highlighted that the boot-camp was hosted by the African Open Science Project (AOSP) at AICAD. He emphasized the project’s focus on capacity building for both current and emerging researchers across all fields.

“The project aims to build capacity for researchers, both experienced and new, while ensuring that the center gains recognition,” said Prof. Muliaro.