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Nairobi, June 4, 2012. African Virtual University and the iHub Research have today June 4th, 2012 signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen research on mobile learning among the two organizations.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Bakary Diallo (right), the Rector of the AVU and Ms. Jessica Colaco, the Research Lead and Manager at the iHub Research.
AVU Rector, Dr. Bakary Diallo, said: "The signing of this MoU is significant because AVU is in a process of setting up a mobile learning lab in Nairobi. Mobile penetration in Africa provides an opportunity to increase access education. In this regard, it is important for AVU to join effort with leading grassroots developers like iHub in order to find and implement innovative mobile solutions adapted to the African context."
The MoU between AVU and the iHub Research is an important step in strengthening the relationship between the Academic and developers' communities.
The MoU demonstrates AVU's commitment to work with various partners across Africa to promote use of ICTs in Education. The AVU recently signed an MOU with the African Union Commission to promote education and the innovative use of ICT in Africa, in particular through eLearning program delivery with focus on teacher education, content development, infrastructure, quality assurance, open education resources, capacity building and networking.
In January 2012, AVU received a US$15.6 million grant from the African Development Bank to assist 22 African countries in improving their infrastructure and programs, and to provide technical assistance on their ICT in education policies and strategies. The grant will also support a peace and conflict resolution program, research and development with focus on mobile learning, open educational resources and gender mainstreaming through the award of scholarships to women enrolled in science programs.
For media inquiries contact: Godwin Bonge-Muhwezi, Senior Marketing and Communications Officer; Tel +254700395376; e-mail: gmuhwezi@avu.org
The African Virtual University (AVU) is a Pan African Intergovernmental Organization whose aim is to significantly increase access to quality higher education and training through the innovative use of Information and Communication Technologies.
Founded in 1997, the AVU has graduated 43,000 students across Africa and established the largest network of Open Distance and eLearning institutions in over 30 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. AVU works across borders and languages in Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone Africa.
In 2011 AVU received global recognition with an award by the US-based Education-Portal.com for its Open Education Resources http://oer.avu.org activities in the category of "Best Emerging OCW Initiative".
The AVU is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya with a regional office in Dakar, Senegal. www.avu.org
About iHub Research
iHub research focuses on technology and its uses in East Africa. We facilitate local research capacity building and conduct local qualitative and quantitative research in East Africa, by East Africans.
Secondly, to bring information on technology and its uses to the technology community, enabling entrepreneurs and developers to make better decisions on what to build and how to build it!
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