Course creates link with Somali university

KU professor posts lectures online KU and Somali students communicate via Internet

By Jeff Deters
Thursday, September 27, 2007

Photo by Adam McDonald Prof. John Kennedy prepares his powerpoint lecture for his Political Science 306 class Monday afternoon in the Dole Human Development Center. Prof. Kennedy tapes his lectures, which will become part of the class' broadcast to Mogadishu University in Somalia later this semester.

Abdi Gutale wanted students at Mogadishu University in his hometown of Mogadishu, Somalia, to have the opportunity to learn about social science research methods.

Gutale, a graduate student in international studies, approached John Kennedy, professor of political science, about opening a link between the University of Kansas and Somalia.

This fall, Kennedy’s “Political Science Methods of Inquiry” class has been broadcasting class lectures to Mogadishu University. Kennedy’s lectures are recorded and then uploaded to the Internet where Mogadishu students can watch the lectures.

Kennedy said the goal of the class was to educate Somalian students on research methods so that the students could better understand and eventually research and solve problems in the region. Kennedy said this was the first time that Mogadishu University has had contact with a university in the United States.

“This class is kind of contributing to a greater connection,” Kennedy said.

About 30 students in Kennedy’s class correspond with the 10 Mogadishu students via e-mail. But that is a problematic task. Kennedy said that there were only a few places in Somalia that have Internet access, and areas that do, such as Mogadishu University, are of rather slow speed.

Justin Platte, Overland Park junior, is a student in Kennedy’s class. Platte is majoring in political science and hopes to go to law school. He said the class has been beneficial to him because it allows him to communicate with students from another country.

“I think it’s good that KU is doing this because we’re keeping our international focus,” he said.

In an effort to keep the class cost at a minimum, Atomic Dog Publishing donated about $1,000 worth of books to Mogadishu students. Gutale said that the class had been so well-received that more Mogadishu students want to take the class next semester.

“It’s slowly changing perception of education and American people,” Gutale said.

Kennedy said he wasn’t sure if they would continue the correspondence with Mogadishu next semester.

Source: Kansan.com, Sept 27, 2007