OPEN UNIVERSITY OF KENYA AND STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK EXPLORE STRATEGIC COLLABORATION IN DIGITAL LEARNING AND HEALTH SCIENCES
Konza Technopolis, Kenya – July 16, 2025— The Open University of Kenya (OUK) played host to a high-powered delegation from the State University of New York (SUNY) on July 15, 2025, in a landmark meeting aimed at establishing a strategic partnership focused on digital learning, academic exchange and future collaboration in health sciences.
The meeting, held at the OUK headquarters, Konza Technopolis, was chaired by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Elijah Omwenga, and brought together academic leaders from both institutions to explore areas of synergy that would benefit faculty, students and the broader higher education landscape in Kenya and beyond.
The SUNY delegation was led by its President, Prof. Wole Soboyejo, accompanied by Mr. Wayne Westervelt, Chief of Staff and Vice President for External Relations and Prof. Dr. Stephen Kolison, a seasoned academic executive. Also present was Prof. Nathan Ogechi, Vice Chancellor of Kisii University, who joined the session as a valued friend and strategic partner of OUK.
In his detailed presentation, Prof. Omwenga walked the visitors through OUK’s journey since its chartering on 3rd August 2023, highlighting its unique position as a specialized institution for open and distance learning in Kenya. He noted that the University has built a robust ICT and learning infrastructure and is committed to making higher education more accessible to learners from all walks of life.
“We are proud to usher in a new era in digital learning. Our enrollment numbers are encouraging, with 3,990 students registered by July 15, 2025,” said Prof. Omwenga.
“With 19 new academic programmes approved by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and a growing interest in our model, we are now open to global strategic partnerships that can enrich our academic offerings.”
OUK Vice Chancellor, Prof. Elijah Omwenga, chairs the strategic collaboration meeting with the visiting SUNY delegation.
Prof. Dr. Stephen Kolison of SUNY makes a key contribution during discussions on academic exchange and digital learning.
SUNY President, Prof. Wole Soboyejo (left), emphasizes a point as Mr. Wayne Westervelt, Chief of Staff and VP External Relations (right), follows keenly.
Speaking on behalf of SUNY, President Prof. Wole Soboyejo expressed optimism about the potential collaboration, especially in health sciences and technology-enhanced learning. He noted that SUNY comprises four colleges, offering diverse opportunities for academic cooperation.
“We believe the School of Nursing at SUNY can work closely with OUK once its Nursing programme receives regulatory approval. This partnership can help create innovative, scalable healthcare education solutions,” said Prof. Soboyejo.
Prof. Nathan Ogechi, the Vice Chancellor of Kisii University, emphasized the value of cross-institutional cooperation, citing the importance of leveraging Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital (a Level 6 facility) in health science training.
“This hospital can be key to these discussions,” said Prof. Ogechi. “We are also proud of the relationship we continue to build with OUK. Since our establishment 13 years ago, Kisii University has developed 81 undergraduate programmes and we are keen to align with institutions like OUK to expand access to education.”
Kisii University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nathan Ogechi (right), addresses the meeting as OUK Vice Chancellor, Prof. Omwenga (left), listens attentively.
The meeting was attended by members of the OUK leadership team including Prof. Carolyne Omulando, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Benjamin Wambua of the School of Education and Dr. Catherine Kagucia, Registrar Academic Affairs, along with other faculty and administrative staff.
As a key outcome of the meeting, the two institutions agreed to convene a follow-up online session in the coming weeks to discuss and finalize the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will frame their collaboration in areas such as faculty exchange, joint research, program development and student support services.