Nakuru: In efforts to enhance the uptake of Artificial Intelligence in learning institutions, Zetech University, in collaboration with Rhodes University in South Africa, have secured a grant to research on how to employ the technology in training their students. The institutions bagged the prestigious Knowledge Interchange and Collaboration (KIC) grant from the National Research Foundation of South Africa to conduct research on how students and faculty employ AI in teaching and research. The research will also seek to examine the legitimacy of AI as an academic tool.
According to Kenya News Agency, Zetech University Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Research and Student Affairs Prof. Alice Njuguna, while welcoming the aid said the research will put the institution in a better position to be able to employ the use of AI in teaching and learning, thus making it more relevant and competitive. She said the study aligns seamlessly with the institution's value of innovation and the strategic objective to strengthen research through partnerships with leading institutions like Rhodes University.
She added that the cross-border collaboration reinforces the University's commitment to addressing global challenges through evidence-based research and strategic partnerships. Prof Njuguna, while noting that AI technology is rapidly being employed in various sectors of the economy worldwide, acknowledged the need for institutions of higher learning to take the lead in using AI in learning to be able to churn out market-oriented students.
'It is a step forward in positioning Zetech University as a leader in research and technology on the African continent. Since AI is taking over all the sectors over the world, we don't want to be left behind in being competitive and market responsive,' the VC said. Recently the University introduced postgraduate programs in Computer Science and Information Technology, alongside collaborations with global tech leaders like Microsoft ADC and the International Association of Science Parks (IASP) to further research and develop the tech talent in the region.