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New deal to help in sealing ICT skills gap [Nation (Kenya)]
[June 21, 2014]

New deal to help in sealing ICT skills gap [Nation (Kenya)]


(Nation (Kenya) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) A public/private partnership framework has been developed to help nurture quality technology skills in universities.

ICT Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i said there are 16 key projects to be implemented through Smart Kenya, which cannot be matched with the big gap in technology skills.

The widening skills gap in technology is quite evident even as government focuses on this sector to help the economy grow, said Mr Matiang'i.

He spoke during launch of iLab Africa at Strathmore University Thursday.

According to Kenya Education Network e-readiness survey released last month, there is a slight decline in research in higher institutions.

It covered 17 universities countrywide and found that ICT research and innovation were very low in 2013 compared to 2008 in those institutions.



Mr Matiang'i said the government has been slow to fund research and innovation noting that this has had an impact on the takeoff of major projects in the country.

"Universities keep releasing half-baked students in technology because of lack of funding," he said. Major key projects in this field include Konza Technology City plan and National broadband strategy.


The facility has played an important role as a technology incubation centre in Kenya.

"iLab has grown since inception in 2011. It led to the opening of iBiz which is a business centre where innovators develop bright ideas that can be bought by corporates," said iLabAfrica director Joseph Sevilla.

(c) 2014 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

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