Daystar faculty gets certification for Competency Based and Pedagogy Education.

Participants from Daystar University pose for a group photo together with the trainers from JAMK University of Applied Human Science: Mr. Juha Hautannen, Dr. Hanna Laitinen, and Dr. Elia Burns (middle left) at the KCB Leadership Centre in Karen from 2^nd to 4^th February 2026. 

By Timothy Oiro

[Nairobi: February 4, 2026] Dr. Elia Burns, Dr. Hanna Laitinen and Mr. Juha Hautannen from Jamk University of Applied Sciences in Finland recently conducted a three-day training at the KCB Leadership Centre in Karen, Nairobi, from 2nd to 4th February.  The training ran under the theme “Competence Development Training.”

This was the sixth and final in a series of collaborative workshops on Problem Based Learning (PBL) and Competency Based Education (CBE) that began in August last year between Daystar University and Jamk University of Applied Sciences.  The first session took place in Nairobi from 4th to 6th August, while the second took place in Finland from 1st to 12th September.  The third and fifth sessions were held virtually in October and December, while the fourth took place at Daystar University in November.   

The first two days of the final training entailed presentation of learner-centred pilots and analysis discussion by various groups. Through these sessions, Dr. Burns conversed with the participants on the vital skills needed as a peer trainer. She emphasized that a trainer must be a coach and a mentor, an effective communicator, knowledgeable in inclusivity and diversity in learning, and skilled in how to employ and use digital pedagogy.

The last day culminated with a presentation from Mr. Juha Hautannen titled “Entrepreneurial Education University.”  He underscored that for individuals and institutions to master the art of entrepreneurship, they should be action oriented, which, he said, involves solving real world problems, coming up with startups, and spinoffs as an institution.

He encouraged the adoption of the 3Cs namely: Creativity (Innovation), Co-creation, and Courage (Curiosity).

The DVC-Academic, Research and Student Affairs, Prof. Samuel Muriithi, said that the participants will, within six months, develop a Handbook for use as a training guide for competence-based education (CBE).

The guide, he added, will be presented to the Senate and Management for approval before it is used to train both part-time and full-time lecturers.

Towards the end of the programme, Dr. Burns used visual images to summarise themes covered in the training, which included: Pedagogical core competencies; Teacher competencies; Andragogy, theories and approach to learning; Curriculum design; Learning design; Learner-centered experiments; Digital Pedagogy & AI-enhanced Learning; Guidance, Entrepreneurship & Institutional Growth; and Professional Identity and Growth.

The highlight of the event was the issuance of certificates to the 16 participants representing different schools, directorates and management offices were awarded.

In his closing remarks Prof. Samuel Muriithi urged the participants to make full use of the knowledge and tools they had gained from the training. He appreciated the Jamk University team particularly Dr. Burns and Dr. Hanna Laitinen for the exemplary work they had done as tutors since the commencement of the training.

The DVC- Finance, Administration and Training, Prof. Muturi Wachira, also expressed his gratitude to the team from Finland and the participants for their commitment to the process.  He urged everyone to embrace future workshops to enhance their new skills.

“We can do a lot as a group and enhance the skills we have learnt by organizing workshops,” he said, reiterating the commitment of the University management to seeing the project succeed.

Participants display their certificates following a three day training conducted by jamk University from Finland on Competence Based Education(CBE), held from February 2-4 2026 at the KCB Leadership Center in Karen , Nairobi.