On 3^rd July, Prof Seija Karppinen paid a courtesy call to  Pwani University Vice Chancellor, Prof MS Rajab .  The Vice Chancellor appreciated efforts done to train trainers of training. This was a big step in preparing teachers to handle Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).  Due to the increasing number of teachers who need training, there was need to increase the length of the project. The Vice Chancellor also suggested the need to consider exchange programs for both staff and students involved in the project. On her part, Prof. Seija appreciated the university teams and their flexibility in supporting the project. She appreciated the successful collaboration between the Kenya and Finnish Universities. She promised to look into the possibility of lengthening the period of the project in the next round of funding in 2024.  Regarding the consideration of exchange programs, Prof Seija agreed it was a noble idea, however due to budgetary constraints, she suggested it could be considered in the next cycle of the project. Prof Seija also met with faculty members from the school of Education. The Dean, Prof Jacinta Kwena made a presentation on the strides the school has made in preparing the students to be effective teachers in handling CBC. The presentation also covered requirements of Special needs department to effectively support CBC.

TOTEMK project had its first training focusing on the 21st century skills in April followed by a ten week distance learning period. A graduation ceremony was held in September for the participants who completed the course.

Ian Warua from Strathmore University opened the graduation ceremony, held in Zoom, thanking the graduates for participating in TOTEMK project's first training. The ceremony was also joined by the project's leader Seija Karppinen: "During the TOTEMK project we have four different training periods. Today we marked the completion of the first training. The aim of the TOTEMK project is to strengthen the capacity of teacher education and institutional management in Kenya".

Altogether 60 participants graduated from TOTEMK's first training. "We, as the graduands, are now fully equipped with the 21st Century Skills, gearing towards a deepened understanding in critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity", Dr.Beatrice Mburugu, one of the participants said in her speech.

TOTEMK warmly congratulates all the graduates!

The training was conducted as a hybrid of both virtual and physical. Out of the 60 participants, 25 participants attended face-to-face, while the rest joined the training virtually. Pwani University was represented by  six (6) participants—Three(3) members of the TOTEMK core team and three (3) teaching staff of the School of Education. The aim of the TOTwas to enhance the participants' knowledge & skills in using modern technology in teaching and learning. The objective of the training was to support the implementation of Competency Based Curriculum and to equip participants with modern technology in teaching and learning using digital tools. Ideally it was expected that at the end of the training, each participant would be able to:

1. Comprehend the role of technology in HE teaching to ensure successful implementation of CBC
   
   
2. Apply different methodologies for planning and carrying out teaching
   
   
3. Design and deliver a course for online/blended/classroom learning situation applying digital tools in a pedagogically appropriate way

• Report of the baseline-23rd March 2021

• Report of the baseline -2 March to September 2022