The innovative work of the DEVISE4KE (Development of Vocational Education and Digital Skills for Kenya) project took centre stage at the EDvance Summit 2026, represented by Dr. Wycliffe Ogaga of Rongo University.
Convening an international audience of policymakers, educators, TVET practitioners, and development specialists under the banner “Bridging Educational Divides: Building Tomorrow’s Workforce,” the EDvance Summit explored practical, evidence-based solutions that link digital transformation directly to tangible employment opportunities across Africa.
Ground-Level Impact from Rural Classrooms to Policy
In his address, Dr. Ogaga shared critical insights and field experiences drawn from the DEVISE4KE project’s grassroots implementation in Western Kenya. The European Union–funded initiative—a consortium partnering European and Kenyan institutions, including the University of Bremen (ITB), Warnborough College Ireland, San Jose Maristak, and Rongo University—has been actively developing pedagogical and technical frameworks that bring digital learning and work-based training to secondary and vocational schools.
Dr. Ogaga highlighted how the project bridges traditional learning gaps by equipping educators and learners with practical, industry-aligned skills. Focusing on core interventions in participating schools—including solar technology integration, digital content creation, and real-world task design—he underscored that digital equity cannot simply mean delivering hardware. Instead, sustainable transformation requires localised curricula, deliberate capacity building for trainers, and structured pipelines that prepare young people for regional labour markets.
Aligning with the EDvance Agenda
Dr Ogaga’s presentation directly resonated with the core pillars of the EDvance Summit: Digital Equity, Innovative Pedagogy in Resource-Constrained Environments, and Economic Participation.
By illustrating how rural secondary schools in Kenya can successfully pilot competency-based and work-based learning models, DEVISE4KE provided the summit with a compelling blueprint for how cross-border academic-vocational partnerships can turn connectivity into sustainable livelihoods.
The presentation sparked strong interest from delegates, reinforcing that empowering local educators is the most vital step toward bridging Africa’s digital and skills divide.
