Message from the HoD

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL AND DISTANCE STUDIES

Message from the Chair- Department of Educational and Distance Studies (DEDS)

Anne Achieng Aseey PhD-Chair, Department of Educational and Distance Studies (DEDS)

Welcome to the Department of Educational and Distance Studies (DEDS) formerly Department of Educational Studies (DES). The Department is one of the oldest departments in the Faculty of Education. It traces its history to the College of Adult and Distance Education (CADE) which later became the College of Education and External Studies (CEES).Since then, the departments has made great strides in producing manpower in Education. The Department has particularly contributed to the development and practice of teacher education and preparation, Adult Education, Youth and Community Development and Distance Education in Kenya, Eastern Africa, Central Africa, West Africa and Southern Africa and beyond Africa especially in India in relation to the establishment of Indira Gandhi National Open University.

As COVID-19 pandemic continues to be with us longer, the department has become more concerned on how interconnected humans are and how education can be disrupted at a short notice. The department is amazed by how distances, online and blended learning has picked up in the university of Nairobi community despite distances and time zones.  The large number of students taking various courses in the Department and embracing remote learning  has been the motivating factor for the department to continue its long history of offering courses at a distance to deserving clients without considering the ‘brick-and-motor Education. The Zeal and resilience in continuing with learning and teaching in the department without much disruption after closure of education institutions in March 2020 in Kenya followed by lockdowns was a test to the role distance learning can play during disruptions and uncertainty. Leaning and teaching continued online using platforms created by the University of Nairobi ICT Department as Google meet, google classroom, and zoom among others. Other education partners to mention a few like Telcome Kenya limited supported learning through soma -na -telcome -Kenya data bundles while institutions like Open University of UK, and others enhanced online teaching capacity of staff to ensure continuity.

The Department continues to be active in community outreach, partnership and collaborations, research and innovations and Academic excellence.

PROGRAMMES

The Department of Educational and Distance Studies (DEDS) offers the following Undergraduate, Bachelors, Postgraduate diploma, Masters and Doctoral degree programmes:

Undergraduate Courses

Certificates and Diplomas

  1. Certificate in Adult Education
  2. Diploma in Adult Education and Community Development
  3. Diploma in Commonwealth Youth Programme (DCYP)

Bachelors

  1.  Bachelor of education  Arts(by distance)
  2. Bachelor of Education Science(by Distance)
  3. Bachelor of Education (Youth, Adult And Community Development)

Postgraduate Programmes

  1. Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)
  2. Master of Distance Education (MED)
  3. Master of Arts in Peace Education (MAPE)
  4. Doctor of Philosophy (Distance Education)