The Open University of Kenya (OUK) has initiated discussions on a strategic partnership with Pathways Technologies aimed at advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) training, digital skills development, research and innovation in Kenya and the wider region.

The consultative meeting, held at Konza Technopolis, brought together senior leadership from both institutions to explore collaboration opportunities aligned with the future of work, digital transformation and industry-driven education.

Strengthening Industry–Academia Collaboration

Speaking during the meeting, OUK Vice-Chancellor Prof. Elijah Omwenga emphasized the university’s commitment to industry partnerships that enhance the relevance and employability of graduates.

He noted that the proposed collaboration supports OUK’s mandate of delivering flexible, market- responsive and technology-enabled higher education, particularly in fast-growing fields such as AI, data science and emerging technologies.

Vice-Chancellor, Open University of Kenya (third from right), Prof. Elijah Omwenga, shakes hands with the Vice-President, Pathways Technologies Ltd, during the engagement. Standing from left to right are DVC, Planning & Innovation, Prof. Christopher Chepken; Chief of Strategy, Pathways Technologies Ltd, Ms. Becky Abraham; CEO, Pathways Technologies Ltd, Mr. Joel Onditi; Vice President, Pathways Technologies Ltd, Ms. Fransisca Omasaja; and DVC, Academic Affairs, Prof. Carolyne Omulando.

Proposed areas of collaboration include:

• AI and data analytics certificate programmes

• Joint professional and short courses in digital skills

• Collaborative research in AI and science

• Joint grant applications and funded innovation projects
• Co-creation of digital learning content

• Student internships, attachments and industry placements

“Strategic partnerships enable universities to leverage shared expertise and resources while responding effectively to labour market demands,” Prof. Omwenga said.

Pathways Technologies’ Role in AI and Digital Capacity Building

Pathways Technologies founder and CEO Mr. Joel Onditi welcomed the engagement, noting that the partnership would help bridge the gap between academic training and industry delivery.

Founded in 2013 in Colorado, USA, and operating in Kenya since 2014, Pathways Technologies has established a strong presence in big data, analytics solutions, AI training and digital capacity building.

“OUK brings academic credibility, accreditation and content development, while we bring industry experience, delivery capability and strong networks. This partnership can deliver practical, industry-ready digital skills,” Mr. Onditi said.

He added that Pathways has collaborated with organizations such as UNDP, Microsoft, the ICT Authority (ICTA) and government agencies—creating opportunities for joint grants, AI research projects and large-scale skills development programmes.
 

OUK Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Prof. Omulando observed that the partnership comes at a critical time when professionals must continuously reskill and upskill to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving job market.

“Lifelong learning, digital literacy and flexible training models are now essential for workforce relevance,” he said.

Governance, Sustainability and Research Impact

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Planning and Innovation) Prof. Christopher Chepken highlighted the importance of governance frameworks, sustainability models and scalable delivery mechanisms for joint programmes.

The discussions also explored joint research in Artificial Intelligence, particularly AI applications for science, public sector innovation and data-driven decision-making, leveraging real-world datasets from Pathways’ ongoing engagements.

Next Steps Towards a Formal Partnership

The two institutions agreed to develop and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) within two weeks, with technical teams assigned to refine priority collaboration areas.

The proposed partnership reinforces the Open University of Kenya’s leadership in digital education, innovation and industry-aligned learning, while supporting Kenya’s ambition to become a regional hub for AI, digital skills and technology-driven research.