November 2024
The Eastern Africa Centre (EAC) at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) is pleased to announce a new collaboration with the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE), marking a significant step towards advancing inclusive education and cross-cultural learning opportunities. A memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between NTU and KISE on 22 November 2024, led by two NTU academics (Dr Chris Rolph and Dr Abdishakur Takar).
Partnership Focus Areas
The new NTU-KISE partnership focuses on several key areas:
- Knowledge exchange programmes, including short courses and joint workshops in specialized fields such as Speech & Language Therapy
- Staff and student exchanges to foster cross-institutional learning experiences
- Development of joint research projects, conferences, and seminars
- Exploration of additional areas to promote academic interests in research and teaching
NTU Global Partnerships
NTU is developing world-leading teaching and research collaborations with institutions and organisations around the globe. The university’s ongoing collaboration with KISE demonstrates its dedication to international partnerships and their impact on global education initiatives.
Chris Crabot, Associate Director of NTU Global, highlighted how this initiative aligns with the university's broader strategy: “At NTU, we have a strategy which called ‘Connecting Globally’, and this collaboration between NTU and KISE supports our mission of bringing an international outlook to our students, allowing us to share knowledge across borders and to ensure that we have a shared understanding of the world through education.”
Advancing Collaborations through the Eastern Africa Centre and Nottingham Institute of Education
The signing of this MOU marks a significant development in advancing this exciting collaboration between the two institutions.
Dr Chris Rolph, Director of Nottingham Institute of Education at NTU, emphasized the mutual benefits of this collaboration: “This collaboration is a two-way relationship which will enhance our own understanding of inclusive education in other countries. This relationship will create a learning opportunity for our students to interact with students who are studying similar subjects at KISE and learn from each other. I think it's really important that our students understand that elsewhere, people do things differently”.
Impact and Significance
This new partnership represents a significant step towards fostering global understanding and advancing inclusive education practices. By combining the expertise and resources of both institutions, NTU and KISE are set to make significant contributions to the field of education, especially in areas related to special education and inclusive learning environments.
Dr. Norman Kiogora, Director of Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE), expressed gratitude for the collaboration: “We are very grateful to colleagues from NTU for visiting us last year. Their input has been beneficial to the advancement of knowledge and understanding of our staff at KISE. This collaboration will be a great opportunity to enhance our initial engagement by creating an opportunity for staff of both NTU and KISE to enhance cross-institutional learning opportunities”.
The NTU Eastern Africa Centre is proud to support this partnership to advance inclusive education in Kenya.
For more information about this collaboration or to learn about potential involvement opportunities, please contact: Dr. Abdishakur Tarah, Senior Lecturer & Researcher in Education at Nottingham Trent University.
About the Institutions
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) is a public research university located in Nottingham, United Kingdom. Renowned for its commitment to innovation and global engagement, NTU offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines.
Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) is a leading institution dedicated to advancing special education in Kenya. KISE plays a crucial role in training educators and conducting research to improve educational outcomes for students with special needs.
The Eastern Africa Centre (EAC) at NTU serves as a strategic link between the University and institutions in Africa, fostering academic collaborations, research partnerships, and capacity strengthening initiatives.
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