OUK, GSU Forge Partnership to Expand Higher Education Opportunities for Officers

The Open University of Kenya (OUK) and the General Service Unit (GSU) have agreed on several areas of collaboration aimed at expanding access to higher education for disciplined officers, including those serving in remote and border areas.

The agreements were reached during a meeting at the GSU Ruaraka Headquarters, where OUK presented its flexible learning model and explored ways of making university education more accessible to officers whose duties and deployments may limit their ability to attend conventional face-to-face classes.

OUK Vice Chancellor Prof. Elijah Omwenga and GSU Commandant Johana Kiplagat Tonui during discussions on areas of collaboration in higher education and training.

Key areas of collaboration

• OUK to have opportunities of reaching out to officers in various GSU stations to sell our programmes and the flexible model of learning.
• OUK will share learning materials and information freely at GSU facilities, giving officers easier access to information on available programmes and opportunities for further education.
• OUK will organise webinars for GSU officers to promote its academic programmes, admission opportunities and flexible model of learning.
• OUK and GSU will explore opportunities for jointly developing and co-creating tailor-made courses that address the specific professional and academic needs of the GSU community.
• The two institutions will explore the establishment of a strategic partnership, with a view for long term collaboration.

Speaking during the meeting, OUK Vice Chancellor Prof. Elijah Omwenga described the university's approach to learning as a “revolving door”, allowing learners to continue their studies regardless of their location.

“You learn wherever you are and at your own pace. We have conquered time and space,” Prof. Omwenga said, highlighting OUK’s flexible and technology-enabled approach to higher education.

GSU Commandant Johana Kiplagat Tonui shakes hands with OUK Vice Chancellor Prof. Elijah Omwenga during the partnership discussions.

GSU Commandant Johana Kiplagat Tonui welcomed the proposed collaboration and underscored the importance of maintaining high standards of education.

“You have lightened the burden on my shoulders. After passing-out parade, many officers want to remain in Nairobi to pursue their studies. But now they can study from the comfort of their workplace,” Tonui said.

He noted that the flexibility offered by OUK could provide an important opportunity for officers whose duties and deployments make it difficult to attend conventional university classes.

Prof. Omwenga said OUK is guided by five key pillars — inclusivity, affordability, accessibility, flexibility and quality — as it seeks to expand access to higher education and support the government's development agenda.

GSU officers pose for a group photo with their counterparts from the Open University of Kenya (OUK) following the partnership discussions.

The proposed partnership is particularly relevant to GSU officers deployed away from major urban centres, including along the Kenya-Somalia and Kenya-Tanzania borders, where access to conventional university education can be challenging.

Through OUK’s flexible learning model, officers can pursue their studies without necessarily leaving their places of deployment or interrupting their professional responsibilities.

OUK, now in its third year, has enrolled more than 30,000 students and has established more than 40 Memoranda of Understanding with various institutions as it expands access to higher education and strengthens partnerships.

The GSU delegation comprised Commandant Johana Tonui, HSC; Deputy Commandant Fredrick Egesa, OGW-AIG; General Staffing Officer George Nderitu, MBS, OGW-AIG; Staff Officer Health Services Nelina Ondu, HSC-CP; Staff Officer Headquarters I Vitalis Odawa, HSC-SP; Combat Intelligence Officer Sarah Chemtai, HSC-SP; Public Relations Officer CI Francis Kafue and Deputy HRO Fridah Gitonga.

The OUK delegation comprised Vice Chancellor Prof. Elijah Omwenga; Head of Admissions Ms. Bernice Ogonda, Lecturer school of business and Economics and Lead, strategic in School of Business and Economics Dr. Evans Mogeni, the Senior Administrator in-charge of Liaison Mr. Joseph Onyancha and the Communications and Marketing officer Mr. Shisia Wasilwa.