Inclusive e-Learning Initiative

Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation – Project

Funder

Cyber School Technologies Solutions (CSTS), Uganda in partnership with Mastercard Foundation

Background

The Inclusive e-Learning project in the Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation is a project implemented by Cyber School Technologies Solutions (CSTS) Uganda in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, under the broader programme of e-Learning Initiative for seven (7) Educational Institutions in Uganda. The CSTS – Mastercard Foundation Initiative aims at enhancing the resilience of Education Institutions (EIs) by deepening eLearning and empowering instructors and students to use digital technologies. This is in response to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic that prompted a shift in the focus of the Uganda eLearning initiative. The program is designed to include lower-income youth, refugees, women, and people with disabilities, and addresses learning challenges with special-assistive devices, sign language integration, mentorships, internships, scholarships, and instructor skilling on social-emotional learning. The inclusive e-learning project in the Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation, Kyambogo University is a pilot initiative aimed at enabling persons with disabilities to access and participate in e-learning.

Implementation Partners

At the national level, Cyber School Technology Solutions (CSTS) is implementing this project in partnership with Mastercard Foundation and Eight Tech Consults that’s supporting educational institutions to develop online learning policy, implementation strategies and eLearning business models. It is also in partnership with the Research and Education Network for Uganda (RENU) to enhance internet services to education institutions. At Kyambogo University, the Inclusive e-learning project is being implemented with the support of the University’s Disability Support Centre (DSC), Directorate of Information and Communication Technology (DICTs), students/lecturers with disabilities, students/lecturers without disabilities, associations of students with disabilities and student’s guild representatives (GRCs), all coordinated by the Dean, Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation.

Project Goal

The Inclusive e-Learning project contributes to achieving the broader goal of ‘’Improving access to relevant and Quality Education for 95,000 youth (50% women), in 21 Educational Institutions (EIs), with 12,500 transitioning into meaningful and dignified work by 2026, with funding from Mastercard Foundation’’.

Intervention Areas

E-Learning policy, strategy and business Model Development
Education institution and personnel (Instructors) capacity Building
Content development, digitization and accessibility
Development and adoption of work readiness and entrepreneurship skills course
Deployment of online Learning Management System (LMS)
Increasing access to affordable internet and devices
Supporting the transitioning of youth into work through internships and work-study programs

Our Theory of Change: Cyber School-Mastercard Foundation E-learning Programme

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Achievements and Successes

1. E-learning policy, strategy and business Model Development

Two inception meetings (one virtual and another Physical) held with Kyambogo University’s Top Management (Vice Chancellor), Faculty Dean, and Directorate of Information Communication Technology (DICT)
10 University leaders trained in policy, strategy and business development
Technical Working Group, and Project Focal Persons appointed in the faculty.

Education institution and personnel (Instructors) Capacity Building

Fifty-eight (58) lectures and 5 Administrators for the Directorate of Information Communication Technology (ICT) received training in the use of the LMS.
Fifty-eight (58) trained in Digital Pedagogy and Instructional Design and prepared them to create content for online delivery.
Ten (10) lecturers’ champions of training have been identified to continue supporting other lecturers.
Fifteen (15) lecturers on the technical working group committee trained in Safeguarding, Gender, Disability, and

Content development, digitization and accessibility

Thirteen (13) out of 58 lecturers have designed and uploaded online content/materials for target programmes/courses.
Forty-five (45) out of 58 lecturers are developing online teaching materials under the guidance of CSTS staff.

Development and adoption of work readiness and entrepreneurship skills course

Work readiness course developed and
Entrepreneurship and business skills course developed & digitized.
One hundred- forty (140) students enrolled and studying online work readiness and entrepreneurship skills.

Deployment of online Learning Management System (LMS)

A Learning Management System (LMS) developed specifically for the Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation, Kyambogo University.
E-learning awareness clinics/desks conducted and over 1,200 students registered and connected on the LMS platform.
Big Blue Button Server to enable live virtual classes has been set up.

Increasing access to affordable internet and devices

150 students with disabilities have received laptops, assistive devices and assistive technology.
Software namely JAWS, Dragon software and fusion software) procured and installed in laptops of students with disabilities.
105 Microsoft licenses procured for the students’ and lecturers’ laptops.
40 lecturers received laptops for content development and teaching online.
Over 1,200 students connected to EDUROM internet hotspots on campus.
Wireless internet routers installed in nine (9) lecture rooms in the Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation.
Five (5) major compound internet hotspots strengthened with dedicated faster bandwidth to FSN (40mbps) in the Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation.

Supporting the transitioning of youth into work through internships and work-study programs