About Us-Educational Communication and Technology

The Department of Educational Communication and Technology was established in 1986 as one of the departments in the then School of Education. This makes Comtech one of the oldest of the five departments in the School of Education & Lifelong Learning. Since its inception the department has grown over the years with expanded programmes and increased number of students.

The role of a Comtech department as a pedagogical entity in Kenyatta University through the school of education is multifaceted and plays a crucial part in ensuring the effectiveness and quality of education. The departments’ outputs include Curriculum Development, Pedagogical Research, Teacher Training and development, Educational Technology & Mainstreaming, Collaboration and related networking with others locally and globally in the [promotion of desirable educational standards and for quality assurance.

VISION
To be a leading dynamic center of excellence in the provision of customer-driven educational development, research, training programmes, and quality service to community.

MISSION
The mission of the department is to mobilize resources to provide holistic skills in educational and instructional methodologies, by promoting professional leadership roles and provision of educational programmes and service to community through effective training, management and research.

TEACHER TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

The Department provides training and professional development opportunities for educators. This includes workshops, seminars, and ongoing support to enhance teaching skills and keep educators updated with the latest teaching methodologies. The department has focused on intensive training opportunities through online seminars for individuals and groups. Participated in the development of the Modern Competencies for Academic (MOCAT) platform that was created by members of COMTECH alongside eight (8) European universities and is accessible online.

Student and staff mobility opportunities in the department has enhanced capacity and focus through funding from USAID- HED, DPU/ERASMUS+ NRF and Linnaeus Palmer. The department is open to new collaborations that are related to teacher training and development. The most recent collaboration has opened opportunities for expansion of understanding through targeted projects such as Association of History Education in Africa (AHE-Afrika) and African Languages Pedagogy and Development of Indigenous Languages, Africa Association for the International Congress of Mathematics Instructors- AFRICMA.

Other modes of professional development include cohosting international conferences such as the AHE-Afrika Conference, seminars, webinars and workshops. The department is open to collaboration on grant proposal writing opportunities with other scholars locally and globally. This effort has borne fruit when tis year, the Department won a Erasmus + Grant through a multinational proposal developed with 6 local and international partners: “Inclusive and Innovative Digital Education for Migrant Community in Kenya and Somalia” (IIDEMIC)

https://www.ku.ac.ke/index.php/ku/item/2927-advancing-inclusive-and-innovative-digital-education-for-migrant-community-in-kenya-somalia-iidemic#:~:text=The%20Project%2C%20dubbed%20INCLUSIVE%20AND,to%20reflect%20integration%20of%2021st

EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION/MAINSTREAMING

Expectations that innovations can be leveraged or supported by incorporating ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) into the learning and teaching process are widespread. Such innovations are fundamentally changing students' learning experiences. COMTECH continues to explore and implement innovative educational technologies and tools to enhance teaching and learning experiences.

This involves the use of digital platforms, online resources, and learning management systems. The department has developed an app for use by visually handicapped students. Through technology students are enabled to use existing technology for classroom Innovation alters the pedagogical system, improving the teaching process and its results. COMTECH advances the thinking that,among the aims of innovation are increased motivation in teaching and educational activity, an increased volume of material studied per lesson, accelerated training, and more effective time management.

Through collaboration with others the MOCAT:- https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED567059.pdf platform was generated for academic teachers has helped to build capacity at individual level. The department continues to seek collaboration in Educational technology to select and develop technology that can be useful in promotion of classroom learning environment.

CHAIRPERSONS OF THE DEPARTMENT

The following chairpersons have headed the department of Educational Communication and Technology, since its inception as a department in the School of Education.

Mr. M. McDarmont (1972 - 1977)
Prof. Henry O. Ayot (1977 - 1988)
Dr. Anne Obura (1988 - 1990)
Prof. Peter K. Mutunga (1990 - 1994)
Dr. Ndichu Gitau (1994 - 1999)
Dr. Wilson K. Kerich (1999 - 2002)
Dr. Ndichu Gitau (2002 - 2004)
Dr. John N. Maundu (2004 - 2006)
Dr. Samson R. Ondigi (2006 - 2007)
Dr. Mundi Daniel (2007 - 2008)
Prof. Agnes W. Gathumbi (2008 - 2011)
Dr. Mueni Kiio (2012 - 2014)
Dr. Sophie Ndethiu (2014 - 2018)
Dr. Adelheid Bwire (2018 - 2022)
Dr. Marguerite Miheso O’Connor (2022 to 2026)
Dr. Hamisi Babusa (2026 to date )