Egerton University on 8th, July, 2025, hosted a crucial stakeholder engagement forum at Njoro Campus, bringing together varied stakeholder groups for agricultural training and education sector in Kenya.
The event focused on the theme: Enhancing Agriculture Training in TVETs and VTCs: Gender and Technology Inclusion in Kenya,
It was a vibrant, collaborative platform aimed at rethinking how agricultural training can better prepare young people especially women for meaningful participation in a rapidly evolving labor market.
Organized by Dr. Miriam Kyule, a scholar under the 5th cohort of the Alliance for African Partnership (AAP), the event reflected the strength of mentorship and collaboration within the network.
Dr. Kyule is currently being mentored by Dr. Miriam Charimbu from the second-cohort AAP and Dr.Susan Wyche of Michigan State University(MSU).
Egerton University, a key African partner in the AAP initiative, co-hosted the event in collaboration with MSU, showcasing the power of global partnerships in advancing local development goals.
The main objective of the conference was to document and reflect on key issues affecting agricultural training in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and Vocational Training Colleges (VTCs).
These included assessing the relevance of current training programs, the integration of digital and technological tools in teaching and learning, the degree of gender inclusion, and the alignment of training with industry demands.
The forum sought to generate concrete strategies to strengthen pedagogy and institutional support systems within these programs.
Employers shared their perspectives on job readiness among graduates, the digital skills gap, and the importance of both technical and soft skills in the agricultural workforce.
Trainers explored the frequency and depth of curriculum reviews, the role of industry partnerships, and the challenges they face in adopting digital tools and innovative pedagogy in teaching.
Students, on their part, reflected on their internship experiences, access to technology, gender-based challenges, and how institutional culture impacts female student retention in agricultural programs.
The event saw the over 20 paricipants representing TVET and VTC trainers, officials from the Ministry of Agriculture (both county and sub-county levels), the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC), the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA), farmers who host students for practical attachments, and students themselves.
The discussions underscored the urgent need to bridge the gap between training and industry demands.
There was a clear call for curriculum reforms that incorporate emerging themes like climate change adaptation, precision agriculture, entrepreneurship, and digital literacy. Gender inclusion emerged as a key concern, with suggestions to review institutional policies and actively support female students in navigating traditionally male-dominated agricultural fields.
As a way forward, Dr Mirriam Kyule proposed the development of a policy brief to be shared with educational policymakers and training institutions by conducting follow-up workshops, particularly focusing on digital pedagogy and inclusive training models that empower both male and female learners equally.
