Kenya Institute of Social Work and Community Development (KISWCD) is a community-focused development and training institution without any governmental, religious or political affiliation. KISWCD was initiated in 1997 and incorporated on 22 June 2000 as a private company limited by guarantee. It was registered by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology on 22 August 2002 as a training institution.

The institute is managed by Board of Governors who are experienced in the areas of social work, educational institutions management, business management, human resources management, finance and accounting, psychology, environmental health, counseling and law among others.

KISWCD is a member of a number of international organizations and associations and an examination centre for KNEC

Kenya National Examination Council

Kenya National Examination Council is the national body responsible for overseeing national examination in Kenya.-Examinations:Some of the exams delivered by KNEC are:...

, ICM

Institute of Commercial Management

The Institute of Commercial Management , founded in 1979, is a professional body for Commercial and Business Development Managers and an internationally recognised examining and awarding body for business and management students...

 UK, AQA

Assessment and Qualifications Alliance

AQA is an Awarding Body in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It compiles specifications and holds examinations in various subjects at GCSE, AS and A Level and offers vocational qualifications. AQA is a registered charity and independent of the Government...

 UK, and ABMA among others. The Institution offers certificate

Academic certificate

An academic certificate is a document that certifies that a person has received specific education or has passed a test or series of tests.In many countries, certificate is a qualification attained in secondary education. For instance, students in the Republic of Ireland sit the Junior Certificate...

 and diploma

Diploma

A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...

 courses in Community Development

Community development

Community development is a broad term applied to the practices and academic disciplines of civic leaders, activists, involved citizens and professionals to improve various aspects of local communities....

, Social Work

Social work

Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...

 and Welfare

Welfare

Welfare refers to a broad discourse which may hold certain implications regarding the provision of a minimal level of wellbeing and social support for all citizens without the stigma of charity. This is termed "social solidarity"...

, Project Management

Project management

Project management is the discipline of planning, organizing, securing, and managing resources to achieve specific goals. A project is a temporary endeavor with a defined beginning and end , undertaken to meet unique goals and objectives, typically to bring about beneficial change or added value...

, Community Health

Community health

Community health, a field of public health, is a discipline that concerns itself with the study and betterment of the health characteristics of biological communities. While the term community can be broadly defined, community health tends to focus on geographic areas rather than people with shared...

 and Counseling among others. A number of short courses and consultancy services are available.

In the last 10 years, the institution has distinguished itself as a centre for excellence, drawing students from virtually all major NGOs, government departments and the private sector. Students from Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia are among those who have enrolled in KISWCD.

The main campus is located at NACICO Plaza, 6th Floor, on Landhies Road, Nairobi.

KISWCD organization

The college is managed by the KISWCD Board of Governors (BOG) with the director of programmes as its secretary. The board is responsible for the admission and management of the college and appointment of certain categories of staff. The BOG is the highest policymaking body of the institute. The board is composed of 11 members who meet at least three times a year.

Qualifications for admission

• Minimum qualifications for a certificate course are KCSE D+ or KCE Div. 3 or the equivalent.
• Minimum qualifications for a diploma course are KCSE C- or KCE Div. 2 or the equivalent.
• Minimum qualifications are for a higher diploma course KCSE C- or KCE Div. 2 or the equivalent.

This depends on the specific course as some courses require background knowledge in the topic.

Intake

KISWCD has two intakes: January and June every year. Registration for the distance learning programme is possible throughout the year. Students can register online. On enrolling and paying the tuition fees, students are issued with a timetable, course outlines, rules and regulations, grading systems, ID card, the institute’s annual calendar, list of textbooks and examination timetable.

Mode of study

Several methods of study are available:

• Full–time (day time) — 8.00 am–6.00 pm, Mon–Fri
• Evening classes — 5.30 pm–7.30 pm, Mon–Fri
• Saturday classes — 8.00 am–4.00 pm
• Blocks — April, August and December
• Distant Learning Programme (DLP, learning by correspondence)

Examinations

Examinations are administered by several examination bodies namely:

• Kenya National Examination Council
  Kenya National Examination Council
  Kenya National Examination Council is the national body responsible for overseeing national examination in Kenya.-Examinations:Some of the exams delivered by KNEC are:...
  
   (KNEC)
• Kenya Institute of Social Work and Community Development (KISWCD)
• Association of Business Managers and Administrators (ABMA UK)
• Assessment and Qualification Alliance (AQA
  Assessment and Qualifications Alliance
  AQA is an Awarding Body in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It compiles specifications and holds examinations in various subjects at GCSE, AS and A Level and offers vocational qualifications. AQA is a registered charity and independent of the Government...
  
   UK)

The programmes evaluation and quality assurance is done by Ministry of Education, Science and Technology

Ministry of Education, Science and Technology

The Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology is a cabinet-level division of the government of South Korea. It was created on February 29, 2008-External links:*...

, Commission for Higher Education, Kenya Methodist University

Kenya Methodist University

The Kenya Methodist University is a Chartered private University founded by the Methodist Church in Kenya. It is situated within woodland on the North Eastern slopes of Mount Kenya, five kilometers from Meru Town...

 and individual institutions that collaborating with KISWCD.

Field work attachment

All students are required to get attachments in NGOs, churches and other organizations involved in community work for not less than three months. This is mandatory and takes place during the academic year.

Extracurricula activities

KISWCD supports student sports activities. The institute sponsors an annual sports day where students and teachers play against each other.

Short courses

Short courses are organized at the beginning of each year and posted at KISWCD’s training calendar on the website. Short courses target specific knowledge and skills in a particular field of interest to the learner in a highly interactive manner with other learners. The facilitators are leading authorities in the subject area and are conversant with emerging trends in the field. Trainees get first-hand research and reference experience from trainers of repute who impart the subject matter of the particular field with utmost authority. The institute links up with Kenya Institute of Social Work to offer the most comprehensive training in various programmes in the region.

Accommodation

KISWCD does not offer in-house accommodation for students. However, arrangements are made to secure safe accommodation. This cost is met directly by the students.

Consultancy

The objective of the consultancy services is to provide advice in particular areas of expertise. Changing needs in the job market require new specialized knowledge to deal with the fluid environment hence the need for consultancy services.

Footnote

See the About KISWCD website maintained by KISWCD http://www.kiswcd.co.ke/

External links

Kenya Institute of Social Work and Community Development KISWCD Website

Kenya Ministry of Education Ministry of Education Website

Kenya National Examination Council Examination Council Website