The Commission for University Education (CUE), in partnership with the DAAD Regional Office, Nairobi, hosted a three-day workshop from 12th to 14th August 2025 at Lake Naivasha Resort to explore how Competence-Based Education (CBE) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) could advance higher learning in Kenya.
The event brought together representatives from 36 universities, government agencies, and international partners to share ideas, experiences, and practical approaches as institutions prepare for the first CBE cohort in 2029.
Dr. Carol Hunja, representing the Principal Secretary, State Department of Higher Education, set the tone for the workshop. She emphasized that AI is no longer optional if Kenya is to remain globally competitive.
“Through training graduates with the skills employers need, we can ensure they thrive in the new job market. This workshop helps us chart the direction we are taking as a country,” she said.
She further noted that CUE had already trained over 600 Deans of Students as trainers in CBE and would soon bring vice-chancellors on board in September 2025 as policies for the 2029 cohort take shape.
Dr. Carol Hunja, Secretary of State for Higher Education, representing the PS at the forum/ Photo by John Njau
Prof. Mike Kuria, Commission Secretary and CEO of CUE, built on that message, reminding participants that AI can be a great equalizer in education.
“Our local job markets are limited, yet AI empowers students to access opportunities globally,” he explained. “With AI, a student in Turkana, Kenya, can access the same resources as a student in London.”
He stressed that universities already have the human resources to drive this transformation, but leadership must take the first step.
“The greatest transformation begins in the mind. University management must lead boldly to ensure students are ready for the future.”
Commission Secretary and CEO Prof. Mike Kuria delivers his official remarks on the first day of the workshop held in Naivasha from 12th-14th August 2025/ Photo courtesy/John Njau
Dr. Dorothee Weyler, Director, DAAD Regional Office Nairobi, echoed the collaborative spirit of the event.
“We are partnering with the Commission to explore how competence-based education and AI can work hand in hand,” she said.
“DAAD comes not only as a donor but also as a solution provider. At the end of this workshop, we hope participants will leave with a clear way forward.”
DAAD Regional Office Director Dr. Dorothee Weyler delivers her remarks during the workshop on integrating CBE with AI in Naivasha. DAAD Kenya is a key sponsor of the event/ Photo by John Njau
The workshop drew strong support from CUE’s top management and technical staff. CUE Deputy Commission Secretaries Prof. Urbanus Mutwiwa (Accreditation), Dr. Eunice Marete (Quality Assurance) and Dr. David Muthaka (Planning, Research and Innovation), together with Ag. Deputy Director for Quality Assurance, Mr. Michael Tanui, and Senior ICT Officer, Mr. Geoffrey Wanjala, guided the world café sessions.
These highly interactive conversations allowed participants to redesign curricula, imagine how AI tools can be practically embedded in learning, and openly debate policy questions on data privacy, ethical use of AI, and quality assurance.
The format created space for diverse voices to be heard, from senior university managers to young lecturers and ICT specialists.
Participants also heard from international and local experts who demonstrated how CBE shifts the focus from simply finishing academic hours to mastering practical skills and competencies.
Speakers at the workshop were drawn from Kenya, South Africa, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The AI experts included Prof. Chris Odindo, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Student Experience, De Montfort University, UK; Dr. Mine De Klerk, Dean of Curricula and Research at Eduvos, South Africa; and Dr. Sospeter Gatobu from Centre for Leading Research in Education (CLRiE), Canada
They focused on how learning outcomes are central to Competence-Based Education, emphasizing the mastery of specific skills and competencies rather than the mere completion of a set number of academic hours.
AI, they said, could support this shift through intelligent tutoring systems, automated grading, real-time analytics, and personalized learning platforms that adapt to each learner’s pace and needs.
Dr. Eunice Marete, Deputy Commission Secretary in charge of Quality Assurance, delivers her brief remarks as she welcomes participants to the three-day workshop/ Photo by John Njau.
The conversations were not just about opportunities; they also faced hard questions. Limited resources, resistance to change, and the urgent need for staff training were raised.
Rather than stopping at the challenges, participants brainstormed solutions: pilot projects to test AI integration, partnerships with technology providers, more robust industry collaboration, and peer learning among universities.
By the end of the sessions, teams had drafted concrete action plans, what could be done immediately, what would take shape in the medium term, and what needed long-term policy shifts.
The energy in the room reflected a shared understanding: CBE and AI are not abstract ideas anymore; they are the future.
Universities leaders and representatives committed to take lessons back to their institutions, begin internal discussions, and prepare their institutions to seize this transformation.
Participants engaged in World Café sessions during the workshop/ Photo courtesy/John Njau
CUE and the DAAD Regional Office Nairobi pledged to walk the journey with universities, offering guidance, platforms for dialogue, and technical support. As Prof. Kuria summarized in his closing remarks:
“Embracing this change means our universities can prepare graduates who are not only knowledgeable but also skilled, adaptable, and ready to make a real impact on society and the economy.”
CUE Deputy Commission Secretary in charge of Accreditation, Prof. Urbanus Mutwiwa, follows the proceedings closely/Photo by John Njau
Margaret Kirai, Head of Administration and Finance at the DAAD Regional Office, addressing participants during the workshop
DAAD Regional Office’s head of Administration and Finance Margaret Kirai made a presentation on the available DAAD opportunities in higher education funding which she called on every participants to take advantage of.
The workshop closed on a note of optimism and determination, with participants agreeing that higher education in Kenya is at a turning point.
With the right mindset, resources, and partnerships, the country is ready to embrace AI and CBE as tools to create a generation of graduates who can thrive locally and compete globally.
CUE Deputy Commission Secretary in charge of Planning, Research, and Innovation, Dr. David Muthaka (standing), introducing himself to the participants/ Photo by John Njau
Key Takeaways from the Naivasha Workshop
1. AI as a game-changer: It can equalize access to global opportunities, regardless of a student’s location.
2. CBE for skills mastery: Shifting focus from time spent in class to actual competence gained.
3. Leadership matters: University leaders must embrace transformation to prepare institutions for the future.
4. World Café sessions worked: Open discussions sparked solutions on policy, data privacy, ethical AI, and curriculum redesign.
5. Action plans drafted: Universities committed to short-, medium-, and long-term steps toward integrating AI and CBE.
6. Partnerships essential: CUE and DAAD pledged ongoing support, while industry and technology providers are key allies.
From right to left: CUE Deputy Commission Secretary (Quality Assurance) Dr. Eunice Marete, DAAD representative, CUE DCS Accreditation Prof. Urbanus Mutwiwa, DAAD Kenya Regional Director Dr. Dorothee Weyler, Secretary, State Department of Higher Education Dr. Carol Hunja, CUE CEO Prof. Mike Kuria, DCS Planning, Research and Innovation Dr. David Muthaka, Ag. Deputy Director Quality Assurance Mr. Michael Tanui, and ICT Officer Geoffrey Wanjala. Photo courtesy John Njau
Group photo of participants at the workshop/Photo courtesy/John Njau
Article by Evelyn Okewo
Principal Corporate Communication Officer and Ag. Deputy Director, Corporate Communications