Strengthening Geoscience Education for Sustainable Development in Kenya - Update

Key recommendations from this project include strengthening and supplementing existing geosciences postgraduate training courses on themes aligned with Vision 2030 (such as renewable energy, disaster preparedness and climate change, and water, amongst others), to ensure its needs are met. 

Geology for Global Development and our collaborators, the University of Hull (UK), the University of Nairobi (Kenya), Kenyatta University (Kenya), and Sheffield Hallam University (UK) have concluded the 3-month GCRF-funded research project focused on identifying how tertiary geoscience education in Kenya can be strengthened to support Kenya’s sustainable development ambitions.

The project team compiled a database of tertiary geoscience course offerings and thematically analysed Kenya’s Vision 2030, the country’s primary sustainable development strategy. Comparing these datasets, we discovered gaps in available geoscience higher education.

The team additionally characterized the current geoscience workforce and conducted interviews with stakeholders, allowing us to make concrete recommendations for strengthening the available geoscience educational opportunities.

Based on the above results, in conversation with stakeholders, and aligned with the project’s theory of change, we have set out our key recommendations. These recommendations include, for example, strengthening and supplementing existing geosciences postgraduate training courses on themes aligned with Vision 2030 (such as renewable energy, disaster preparedness and climate change, and water, amongst others), to ensure its needs are met. 

While the funded period for this project has ended, the team continues to work together to refine the recommendations, engage with stakeholders, and develop the methodological framework into a toolkit that can be used by others in different countries and regions.

At COP26 (Glasgow, UK), Geology for Global Development has advocated for appropriate postgraduate training in geosciences to meet the ambitions of the Paris Agreement, using this work as a case study. 

To find out more, or to receive outputs as the project progresses, please write to Dr Hannah Hilbert-Wolf at hannah@gfgd.org.