RVNP Sends Students To UK, Israel For Attachment
The Rift Valley National Polytechnic (RVNP) has established partnerships with a number of companies in the United Kingdom and Israel in order to provide its students with hands-on industry experience during their studies.
Mr. Sammy Chemoiwo, the institute’s principal, stated that the initiative aimed to close the skills gap among students by requiring them to spend at least 30 percent of their training working with pertinent industries in the two countries.
Mr. Chemoiwo revealed that RVNP had selected five of its students to embark on a three-month industrial attachment program in various industries in the United Kingdom.
Furthermore, an additional two students will partake in a one-year internship program in Israel.
The institution is currently investigating a training model that would provide students with a blend of theoretical and practical education within a genuine work environment.
This model involves a reciprocal training arrangement between RVNP and local companies.
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He explained that one of the most effective methods for catalyzing social-economic development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to enhance collaborative connections between their institution and the private sector, both on a local and international scale.
They are currently adjusting their curriculum and programs to foster inclusive, equitable, and high-quality education, with an emphasis on providing lifelong learning opportunities for everyone.
Their particular focus is on SDG 4 and 8, which revolve around quality education, decent employment opportunities, and inclusive economic growth for all.
Mr. Chemoiwo emphasized that through collaborations with companies from Israel and the United Kingdom, students will have the opportunity to gain real-world industry and commerce experience.
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The principal explained to Kenya News Agency in his office that close ties between businesses and training institutions have been essential to the economic success of the Western world since the 19th century.
He noted that the private sector is responsible for more than 70 percent of formal employment, but in some instances, it is difficult to locate candidates due to a mismatch between the courses provided by TVET institutions and national polytechnics.
Lincoln Langat and Paul Komen, Mr. Chemoiwo’s assistants in charge of administration and academics, flanked him.
RVNP was one of 13 Technical and Vocational Colleges elevated to National Polytechnic status in order to increase access to higher education.
The resolution followed a Cabinet meeting conducted at the Kakamega State Lodge last month under the direction of President William Ruto.
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Cabinet’s action aligns with the principles outlined in Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2005: A Framework for Education, Training, and Research, which establishes a pathway for the upward mobility of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates, as per a dispatch issued following the meeting.
The policy framework mandates the establishment of at least one National Polytechnic and one TVET institution in each county and constituency, respectively.
Maasai Technical Training Institute, Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology, Coast Institute of Technology, Tseikuru Technical and Training College, and Sang’alo Institute of Science and Technology are also among the elevated institutions.
There are also Jeremiah Nyagah Technical Training Institute, Mawego Technical Training Institute, and Baringo Technical Training Institute.
Mr. Chemoiwo remarked that the National Government had introduced new technical and vocational courses as part of its implementation of the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) policy framework, which aims to provide industry-responsive skills.
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He emphasized that the global labor market was shifting from theoretical expertise to practical-based skills, and a growing number of Kenyans with outstanding academic qualifications were experiencing unemployment because their skills did not align with their career choices.
Mr. Chemoiwo stated that as the world undergoes an industrial and technological revolution, the National Polytechnic will restructure its curriculum to meet present and future industrial demands.
He stated that reengineering training would equip trainers and trainees with the in-demand skills necessary for employers’ businesses to flourish.
He further added that the fast-paced technological advancements and the ongoing industrial revolution necessitate a need for us to update, enhance, and adapt our training programs to meet the industry’s demand for essential skills.
Mr. Chemoiwo notes that skills for the future world of work can be identified through research and analysis of skill requirement trends. RVNP’s curriculum will be revamped to align with these market demands.
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The principal noted that aligning training with industry requirements can have a domino effect on the economy, as businesses are more likely to expand and create new jobs if they can find the talent they require.
Skills acquired through National Polytechnics and Technical Vocational Education Training Institutes (TVET) have the potential to offer solutions to societal challenges and contribute significantly to national development, food security, and various other aspects of life.
We anticipate that our teaching staff and students will produce research papers examining future skills and labor market patterns, he added.
Further, Mr. Chemoiwo mentioned that equipping trainers and training with current knowledge on the effects of industrialization on climate change would promote the creation of ‘green’ employment to reduce pollution in the environment.
The principal emphasized the importance of considering the environment in our training programs, urging us to reflect on how our education prepares us for the future in terms of environmental conservation.
To promote environmental awareness, this perspective should be seamlessly integrated into all areas of training.
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He further emphasized that the concept of greening extends beyond just planting trees; it encompasses a holistic approach that includes reducing the reliance on fossil fuels, adopting renewable energy sources, and ensuring that the skills imparted to students enable them to actively contribute to environmental conservation.
Mr. Chemoiwo challenged parents to advocate for courses offered by TVETS and national polytechnics to help their children acquire pertinent skills favorable to the local and international labor markets, adding that technical training plays an essential role in bolstering the nation’s economy.
He suggested that parents should now place a greater emphasis on courses offered by vocational training centers and argued that technical and vocational education is the solution to economic issues such as unemployment.
Chemoiwo stressed that a country’s economic strength and future hinge on two critical factors: the skill level of its workforce and the resulting production.
He asserted that Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and national polytechnics play a pivotal role in achieving this, serving as the cornerstones for poverty alleviation and fostering economic growth.
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The instructor emphasized that sustainable development necessitates utilizing available resources with future generations in mind.
He also mentioned that RVNP’s training approach will involve the re-engineering of its curriculum and culture to align with the goal of achieving sustainable development.
Mr. Langat, the institute’s Deputy Principal in Charge of Academics, stated that the institute would collaborate with other parties to advance research and innovation by commercializing innovation projects to create value.
He asserted that research and innovation are crucial in providing solutions to the nation’s concerns and even more so in achieving the fourth and eighth Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Mr. Langat stated that the SDGs emphasize the significance of TVET and national polytechnics in achieving quality education that equips students with lifelong skills to enable them to secure respectable employment.
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The institution has sufficient infrastructure and personnel for the upgrade, according to the Deputy Principal.
He stated that the college, established in 1979 with the backing of former President Daniel Moi, possesses ample land for expansion to accommodate a larger population of Technical and Vocational Education Training students.
As a result of significant adjustments in the labor market toward practical skills, he stated that there was a need to enroll more young people in technical institutions to meet these demands.
Mr. Langat highlighted that an excessive emphasis on university education hinders Africa’s progress towards achieving industrialized status by neglecting the acquisition of practical technical skills.
He emphasized the importance of addressing this skill mismatch through technical training rather than solely conferring theoretical degrees.
Regarding climate change, the Vice Principal in Charge of Administration, Mr. Komen, stated that the institution had planted over 10,000 trees as part of a public-private partnership aimed at fostering sustainability and expanding the country’s forest cover.
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He noted that vocational education prepares students for specific careers and is available in schools and colleges with specialized training, adding that the institutions will begin to accept students from across the nation.
“Technical training makes people skilled so that they may be able to handle machinery properly. Technical education makes you an expert in certain domains of life. There are certain jobs that cannot be performed well unless you have technical education,” he said.
Mr. Komen emphasized that the labor market is shifting from traditional employment criteria to a focus on skills and practical experience. He highlighted that polytechnics serve as hubs for individuals who aspire to acquire valuable skills, engage in creative endeavors, and contribute to job creation.
RVNP Sends Students To UK, Israel For Attachment
