UoN rolls out Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) Model in Readiness for 2029 CBET Admissions

Monday, September 1, 2025

The University of Nairobi has embarked on a series of transformative CBET - focused sensitization and training of staff in readiness for the third transition of CBE that will occur in 2029 when the first cohort of CBE senior school graduates are admitted to universities through the University of Nairobi Senate-established sub-Committee for CBET Preparation and Implementation (CPI).

University of Nairobi, kicked off the CBET sensitization on 30th June 2025 by training over 90 CBET Trainer of Trainers (TOTs) Champions across the university management, academic staff, administrative, and ICT staff drawn from all faculties and institutes. The CBET champions were equipped and empowered with skills, knowledge and attitudes on CBET programme and course alignment to enable them to support CBET- CPI committee, and faculty staff in sensitization and advocacy operations in implementation of CBET in the university. It is a great sustainability strategy with a multiplier effect in knowledge and skills dissemination for CBET reform implementation across the university.

The roll-out of the two-day University-wide CBET sensitization took place on Monday, 25th and Tuesday, 26th August 2025, for university management, faculty deans, chairmen of departments, academic, administrative, and ICT Staff for CBET readiness and implementation.

In his opening remarks, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Prof. Ayub Gitau, on behalf of the Vice Chancelor, Prof. Margaret Hutchison; emphasized that, ‘CBET, not only represents a curriculum change, but a strategic shift towards a more skill-driven approach to outcome-based, experiential, and learner -centered mastery of real-world competencies for transforming education, training and research for Sustainable Development in Kenya. It is envisaged that through CBET reform alignment, the University of Nairobi will enhance and strengthen its pedagogical approaches to competencies, skills and technologies that will address skills mismatch in the modern labor market needs by working together with industry and employers in bridging the existing gap. This transition is critical for ensuring that the university’s academic programmes meet the standards and expectations of both local and international educational frameworks, addressing current and future workforce needs.

Prof. Gitau (DVCAA, UoN) further noted that ‘‘As we are all aware, this sensitization Webinar for the University of Nairobi staff on Competency Based and Education and Training (CBET) is a significant re-tooling milestone in the Competency -based Education and training implementation Roadmap; and  in creating university-wide awareness for readiness in the review and alignment of university policies, procedures, programs and resource to competency-based education reforms as stipulated in the  Presidential Working Party on Education Reform (PWPER, 2023) recommendations.

The Chairperson of the University of Nairobi CBET – CPI Roadmap implementation, Prof. Rosemary Imonje, reiterated that in the University of Nairobi context,  a CBET framework will involve re- alignment, re-envisioning and enhancement of existing faculty programs and delivering courses focused on job-specific competencies, practical skills and values for real-world career applications,  specific in-come generating occupations and trades, applicable in industry, community  and small and medium enterprise operations.

The University of Nairobi CBET- CPI steering committee works through three sub-committees with intense CBET tasks and activities anchored on Senate approved CBET TORs. The three sub-committees include;

  • CBET Frameworks, Policies, Processes, and Procedures
  • CBET Curriculum Review Process
  • CBET Sensitization and Training

On the 28th August 2025, The CBET-CPI committee launched an induction for faculty-based needs assessment teams, who lead their faculties in conducting an in-depth CBET- based needs assessment – data collection process, between August 29th to September 30th 2025.

Among the key areas that the needs assessment will be seeking solutions to include;

  • Reorganization of Faculties and departments along CBET Pathways through multi- and interdisciplinary approaches
  • Admission criteria Assessment
  • Duration of programmes within the CBE 2:6:3: 3:3 structure
  • Adoption of competency- based pedagogies versus modern industry needs
  • University Competency Based Assessment Framework
  • Infrastructure and Human resource CBET alignment
  • Inclusivity amid CBET Alignment and implementation

The implementation of the University of Nairobi CBET Roadmap is progressing amid other university scheduled activities until 2028 with structures for admission of first senior school graduates in 2029

The CBET – CPI steering committee adopted the Faculty Model as faculties – who house departments, that own the courses and programmes implemented at the University of Nairobi; and thus have the key role in review and alignment of CBET reforms and processes into the existing faculty programmes.

 

 

 

 

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