Date and Time: Tuesday, 20th February 2024: 15:00 – 16:00 SAST : 16:00 – 17:00 EAT

Leading the Session: Dr. Esther Gacicio, Edtech Consultant & CEO of eLearning Solutions (eLS) 

To join this session please sign up via Zoom here 

Description of the session:  

This session will look at the importance of  integrating soft skills in higher education to ensure graduates are thoroughly equipped for the labour market. 

What does the course entail and its deployment and accreditations from Kenyan universities.

Many young individuals, despite their academic achievements, find it challenging to excel in real world situations. They lack the essential soft skills that employers and life demand. To unlock this potential https://elsat.elearningsolutions.co.ke/ created the 21st Century soft skills program targeting Tertiary Institutions including Universities in Kenya.

Lead Bio:  

Dr.Esther Gacicio is an Edtech Consultant & Co-Founder and CEO of eLearning Solutions (eLS) (www.elearningsolutions.co.ke; www.elsat.elearningsolutions.co.ke ), a company leveraging on digital technology to design, deliver and deploy learning and training solutions, across the spectrum; to the youth, institutions and corporates. Dr. Esther Gacicio is an Edtech Consultant & Co-Founder and CEO of eLearning Solutions (eLS), a company leveraging on digital technology to design, deliver and deploy learning and training solutions, across the spectrum; to the youth, institutions and corporates. She is a member of the Specialist Network of the EDTEch Hub. GIZ Sports for Development Course, Siemens-Stiftung “How to become a paramedic” course, AUCDC Surveillance course, STEP Ethiopia project and most recently, the ELSAT Hub 21^st Century Soft-Skills Course

Dr. Gacicio previously served as a Senior Assistant Director at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD).  Dr. Gacicio was recognized for being the best PhD student (Thesis), Faculty of Education,2021/2022 academic year at the University of Nairobi. She led ELS to receive “Most Preferred MOOCS Solution” of the Year Award 2021 at the Kenya EdTech Summit and Awards inKenya. She was awarded the Excellence in eLearning Award at the World Education Global Awards  2015 in Mumbai, India. She was also a finalist for the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation 2017/2018 a program ran by Royal Academy of Engineering United Kingdom and the subsequent Pitch@Palace under the patronage of HRH The Duke of York, KG in 2018 as well as awarded the Technology in Government in Africa Awards (TIGA) in May, 2011.

Dr. Gacicio is currently serving as a Director in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) board since June 2020. She serves as a Board Member and currently the Chair of the Finance and General Purpose committee of the Technical and Finance and General Purposes committees. 

Presenter: Professor Moustapha Diack – Doctoral Program in Science/Math Education, College of Sciences and Engineering, Southern University Baton Rouge (SUBR) & Executive Director, Digital Education Consulting (DEC) Group – Diackresearch.net 

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Session Description:

This exploration delves into the myriad implications of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) within higher education. Central to our study is understanding how AI reshapes traditional educational dynamics. We engage in a critical reflection and theoretical inquiry, addressing evolving pedagogical models, matters of equity and social justice, as well as ethical concerns like algorithmic biases. The objective is to provide guidance for reimagining learning and assessment modalities in African university settings which are  increasingly influenced by disruptive technologies against a backdrop of resource and human capacity constraints.

Professor Moustapha Diack is a former Associate Vice President of Online Learning Services for the Southern University System (SUS) in Louisiana and currently associated with the doctoral program in Science Math Education (SMED), College of Sciences and Engineering (CSE), at Southern University in Baton Rouge. At Southern, Diack oversees the development and implementation of integrated digital library services, the Southern University Online Library for Education, to facilitate quality online programs development and college affordability through the adoption of OER and Open Textbook. Diack is a member of the Louisiana Board of Regents Task Force on Electronic Learning and Past President 2003-2006 of the Louisiana Academy of Science.

Presenter Bio: 

Professor  Diack has extensive experience in the areas of online learning design and delivery and has played a global leadership role in the areas of Open Education Resources (OER) and Open Education Practices (OEP). He is recipient of the International MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resources for Learning and Online Teaching) eLearning Innovation Award 2009. He is member of the MERLOT Faculty Development Editorial Board and Co-Founding Director of the MERLOT Africa Network (MAN), a network of African higher education institutions and digital scholars engaged in the research and implementation of OER. He is on the board of several influential international organisations such as Quality Matters, the International Council of Open and Distance Education (ICDE), the MERLOT OER organisation and the Skills Commons organisation. 

His research interests and leadership roles are in the areas of learning engineering, with specific research interests focusing on the new advances in Interactive Multimedia Learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Data Science (DS), and Cognitive Science (CS) principles. These axes of research open new frontiers in digital education to design inclusive virtual learning environments that facilitate individualised instruction, academic success, and college affordability. Professor Diack is also an African Social Entrepreneur through the Digital Education Consulting (DEC) Group and an international Advocate of Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and the accommodation of students with disabilities.

Sponsors:

This webinar is partially funded by a grant from the Southern University System (SUS) Foundation, Louisiana – USA. The grant, entitled “Building eLearning Infrastructure leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Open Education Practices (OEP) (Y2023/Y2024)” & The Digital Education Consulting (DEC) Group, Senegal, West Africa.

Session format: Workshop

Date(s) and Time(s): Thursday, 5th October 2023 10:00 – 12:00 (SAST)

Facilitated by: Professor Randhir Rawatlal,  Architect of the AutoScholar Advisor, ScholarCloud and Publon Press systems and Associate Professor at University of Kwazulu-Natal (UKZN) 

To join this session please sign up via Zoom here

Workshop 1 Description 

In response to the evolving educational landscape and the persistent challenges associated with visualisation and student engagement, Publon Press emerges as a dynamic solution. This platform leverages innovative approaches, including dynamic visualisations, live layouts, meta-question creation, and an open content-sharing framework, to transform the traditional teaching and learning experience. By providing educators with the tools to create engaging, multimedia-rich content and promoting active participation, Publon Press not only enhances comprehension but also cultivates critical thinking skills among students, ultimately fostering a more dynamic and collaborative educational environment.

Presenter’s Bio:  

Professor Randhir Rawatlal is architect of the AutoScholar Advisor, ScholarCloud and Publon Press systems which leverage Artificial Intelligence and modern web technologies to support student success initiatives. The work began some 15 years ago, when it was realised that there were so many processes in Higher Ed that could and should be automated. From the accidental discovery of the extreme sensitivity by students to auto-generated interfaces to the realisation that all role players in higher ed are in need of some form of advising, this initial hobby grew and matured to systems in use at several institutions by thousands of students. 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randhir-rawatlal-a971a515/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/randhir.rawatlal.7