2026 Annual Convening
🌱 A STEM Learning Eco-System Convening

From Competency to Workforce Impact

Strengthening industry linkages and supporting the implementation of Competency-Based Education for a globally competitive workforce.

📅
Dates August 3–5, 2026
📍
Venue Weston Hotel, Nairobi
🌍
Location Kenya, East Africa
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The STEM Learning Ecosystem (Kenya) convenes educators, learners, and industry stakeholders to bridge the gap between classroom practice and workforce readiness. Follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook for updates.

Bridging Classroom Practice & Industry

Current classroom practices in many countries are not sufficiently aligned with industry needs, resulting in learners who are academically qualified but not industry-ready. This underscores the urgent need to equip learners with the practical, market-relevant skills required to thrive in an ever-evolving job market and build sustainable, successful futures.

Our Response

The STEM Learning Ecosystem (Kenya) seeks to bridge the gap between classroom practice and industry by creating a Convening for intimate, participatory engagement and collaboration among educators, learners, and industry stakeholders. Through this Convening, participants will engage in deep dialogue, collective action, and co-creation of possible solutions and strategies to improve classroom practice and impact the future workforce.

🤝
Deep DialogueHonest, structured conversations between educators, students, and industry on what's working and what isn't.
Collective ActionMoving beyond talk — co-designing concrete strategies and commitments that participants can implement.
🔬
CBE ImplementationPractical tools and models for embedding Competency-Based Education in real classroom environments.
🌍
Industry LinkagesBuilding lasting partnerships that connect schools and universities directly with employers and sectors.
Explore Full Agenda
500+
Expected Attendees
30+
Distinguished Speakers
3
Intensive Days
20+
Breakout Sessions

Three Voices. One Table.

This Convening is purposefully designed for intimate, participatory engagement — bringing together the three stakeholders who must align if we are to truly bridge the gap between the classroom and the world of work.

🏫

Educators & Teachers

Classroom teachers, school leaders, curriculum developers, and education researchers committed to improving classroom practice. Gain practical CBE tools, connect with industry, and co-create strategies that make your learners truly workforce-ready.

🎓

Students & Youth Leaders

Learners, youth advocates, and emerging leaders who experience the education-to-work gap first-hand. Your lived perspective is not just welcome here — it is essential to designing the solutions that will shape your future.

🏭

Industry & Employers

Business leaders, HR professionals, sector specialists, and government stakeholders who need a workforce that is genuinely competency-ready. Partner with educators to co-design the skills, pathways, and curricula that industry actually needs.

Speakers & Guests

Distinguished Guests & Speakers

★ Chief Guest
KK
Chief Guest
Prof. Kithure Kindiki
Deputy President, Republic of Kenya
Other Guests & Keynote Speakers
PK
Keynote Speaker
Prof. Kindiki
Vice Chancellor, KCA University
SG
Keynote Speaker
Simon Gicharu
Founder & CEO, Mount Kenya University
🇳🇴
Keynote Speaker
Norwegian Delegate
Kingdom of Norway — Details TBC
Special Guests
AM
Special Guest
Dr. Alfred Mutua
Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Social Protection, Kenya
OM
Special Guest
Ogamba Migosi
Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education, Kenya
EM
Special Guest
Everleen Mitei
Ag. CS / CEO, Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Kenya
Expert Speakers
RG
Expert Speaker
Robert Groover
Artificial Intelligence — Educator & Practitioner
TD
Expert Speaker
Prof. Thomas Darryl
Music, Coding & Creative Technology Education
👩‍🏫
Expert Speaker
Lady Speaker
Speaker Details Coming Soon
🌍 International Speakers
DC
International Speaker
🇺🇸 David Coronado
Lemelson Foundation — Innovation & Invention Education
JF
International Speaker
Jennie Frank
TIES — Technology & Innovation in Education Solutions
PT
International Speaker
🇰🇪 Peter Tabichi
Global Teacher Prize (GTP) Winner — Science Educator
Panelists
🏆 Award-Winning Teachers
Jepkosgei Chemoiwa
Award-Winning Educator · Teaching Excellence
Shallom Sila
Award-Winning Educator · Innovation in Teaching
Rosemary Onyancha
Award-Winning Educator · Pedagogy & Impact
🏭 Industrial Panelist
Jonathan Walker
Industry Leader · Workforce Development Specialist

Three Days of Bold Ideas

4:00 PM
Registration

Delegate Registration & Welcome Networking

Check in, collect your badge, connect with fellow attendees, and explore our exhibition area.

6:00 PM
Opening Evening

Special Evening Celebration — Opening Night

Hosted by Eco-systems. Welcome remarks, cultural performances, and networking dinner at the Weston Hotel Nairobi.

7:00 PM
Featured Panel

Forging Resilient and Inclusive Education Ecosystems

Hear from leading African educators, policymakers, and innovators on building education systems that leave no one behind.

9:00 PM
Social

Evening Reception & Cultural Exchange

Open networking, music, and light refreshments.

8:00 AM
Morning

Registration & Morning Tea/Coffee

Doors open. Refreshments served in the foyer.

9:00 AM
Keynote

Education as Liberation — Dr. Tom Mboya

Opening keynote address: Rethinking Workforce Readiness for Africa and the World. Grand Ballroom.

10:30 AM
Break

Networking Break & Refreshments

30-minute break. Explore the innovation exhibition.

11:00 AM
Breakout Sessions

Morning Breakout Tracks — Round 1

Six parallel sessions across Teaching & Pedagogy, Industry Partnerships, Youth Leadership, EdTech, Policy, and Workforce Skills.

1:00 PM
Lunch

Lunch & Spark Talks

Seated lunch with 5-minute Spark Talks from innovators and educators sharing bold ideas.

2:30 PM
Breakout Sessions

Afternoon Breakout Tracks — Round 2

Second round of breakout sessions. Hands-on workshops and collaborative labs.

4:30 PM
Plenary

Day 2 Synthesis & Reflection

Harvesting insights from the day's sessions. Plenary discussion with all delegates.

8:30 AM
Morning

Morning Coffee & Networking

Final day begins with open networking and refreshments.

9:00 AM
Breakout Sessions

Morning Breakout Tracks — Round 3

The final breakout session round. Action planning, coalition building, and resource sharing.

11:30 AM
Interactive Panel

Live from the Future: AI, Skills & the Global Graduate

A lively, interactive discussion on how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are reshaping the skills every graduate needs.

1:00 PM
Lunch

Farewell Lunch

Closing lunch with opportunity to connect and exchange contacts.

2:30 PM
Closing

Closing Plenary & Call to Action

Summary of key commitments, next steps, and the official closing ceremony. Certificate distribution and group photo.

4:00 PM
End

Convening Close

Thank you! Safe travels home. Follow-up resources will be shared via email.

Breakout Sessions

From Dialogue to Action

Each track is designed for hands-on co-creation — not passive listening. Participants will leave with tangible strategies, commitments, and connections that directly improve classroom practice and strengthen industry linkages.

01

CBE in the Classroom

Practical strategies for implementing Competency-Based Education. Move from theory to classroom practice with tools educators can use immediately.

02

Industry-Education Partnerships

Building meaningful, lasting bridges between schools and employers. Co-design curricula, internship pipelines, and mentorship programmes that close the skills gap.

03

Youth Voice & Student Agency

Learners lead this track. Student-centred dialogue on the education-to-work gap, amplifying the voices of those most affected by the system.

04

STEM & Digital Skills for Work

Embedding STEM thinking, AI literacy, coding, and digital competencies into curricula to equip learners for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

05

Policy & Systems Alignment

How do national education policies enable or hinder CBE? Practical advocacy and system-change strategies for policymakers, administrators, and educators.

06

Market-Ready Graduates

What do employers actually need? Industry leaders and educators co-design the competency frameworks, assessment methods, and pathways that produce globally competitive graduates.

Weston Hotel Nairobi

Weston Hotel Nairobi
Lower Kabete Road, Off Waiyaki Way
Nairobi, Kenya

Grand ballroom seating 600+ delegates
6 dedicated breakout conference rooms
High-speed Wi-Fi throughout the venue
On-site accommodation available
Airport shuttle service provided
Halal & dietary-conscious catering
Get Directions
📍
Weston Hotel Nairobi
Lower Kabete Road, Nairobi, Kenya

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Secure Your Place at the Table

Registration is now open. Join educators, students, and industry leaders from across Africa and the world at the WODE 2026 Convening in Nairobi, Kenya.

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