Qualifications conference to shape future of skills, education and employability

The Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) Director General Dr Alice Kande during the 3rd Annual Regulatory Authorities and Agencies Conference 2026 on May 8, 2026. [Jenipher Wachie, Standard]

Kenya is set to host a regional and international forum next week aimed at transforming how qualifications  are defined, recognised and linked to employment.

The first National Qualifications Conference in Nairobi is scheduled for May 12–14, 2026, and bring together policymakers, regulators, employers, academics, youth representatives and development partners to reimagine the future of education, training and skills development in Kenya and beyond.

Organised by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA), the forum is anchored on the theme: “A Decade of Transformation and Reimagining Qualifications in Kenya: Advancing Quality, Relevance, Inclusion and Recognition in Kenya’s Qualifications and Skills for Lifelong Learning and Employability.”

According to KNQA Director General Dr Alice Kande, the event marks over a decade since the rollout of the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF), a system designed to standardise, compare and recognise academic and vocational qualifications across all levels of learning.

“Over the last decade, the KNQF has matured into a critical tool for skills development and lifelong learning. This conference offers us an opportunity to reflect on progress, identify gaps, and co-create solutions that will make our qualifications system more responsive to labour market needs,” Dr Kande said.

Dr Kande noted that the conference is timely, given the rapid changes in the global labour market.

“This is about positioning Kenya’s qualifications system for the future. We must ensure that what our learners are studying is relevant, recognised, and competitive both locally and globally,” she added.

The three-day meeting will serve as a national stocktaking platform to assess how Kenya has progressed in aligning education and training with labour market demands.

It will also explore how qualifications can better support employability, labour mobility and inclusion.

A key highlight will be discussions on how to strengthen governance and policy frameworks around the KNQF, improve coordination among education regulators, and enhance recognition of prior learning.

The conference will explore several thematic areas including industry alignment, digital transformation in assessment, quality assurance, lifelong learning pathways, and emerging trends such as artificial intelligence, micro-credentials and green skills.

Participants will also deliberate on how to bridge the gap between skills supply and demand through Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) and labour market intelligence systems.

Other expected outcomes include strengthening mutual recognition of qualifications across borders, improving collaboration among stakeholders, and enhancing the portability of Kenyan qualifications regionally and internationally.

Key discussions will focus on strengthening governance of the KNQF, improving coordination among regulators, and enhancing recognition of prior learning, especially for workers in informal and non-formal sectors.

KNQA Council Chairperson Stanley Kiptis said the conference is expected to deliver practical and policy-driven outcomes.

“We are looking at practical solutions that will improve trust in our qualifications system and make Kenyan skills more competitive. The outcomes of this conference will guide policy direction for years to come,” he said.

The forum will also explore emerging trends such as digital transformation in assessment, artificial intelligence in learning systems, micro-credentials, green skills and Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET).

About 300 delegates are expected to attend in person, with additional participants joining virtually from across the world.

Beyond dialogue, the conference is being positioned as a turning point in Kenya’s education and skills development agenda. It is expected to generate actionable insights, strengthen partnerships and reinforce the KNQF as a central pillar in linking learning with employment.

A major focus of the conference will be the integration of digital technologies into qualification systems, including digital certification, blockchain verification, and artificial intelligence in assessment.

Experts will also explore the role of micro-credentials and modular learning in expanding access to education and improving flexibility for learners.

Among them are Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, senior government officials, regulators such as as the Commission for University Education (CUE), Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), and TVET Authority (TVETA), as well as international experts from organisations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) and regional qualifications authorities.

Representatives from employer bodies, including the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), industry associations, youth organisations and civil society groups will also participate in panel discussions and technical sessions.

Employers are expected to play a key role in shaping conversations around job market needs, with a strong focus on how qualifications can better respond to evolving industry demands.

Dr Kande noted that the conference is expected to shape Kenya’s long-term approach to education, skills and employment, reinforcing the KNQF as a central pillar in linking learning with work.

“This conference is about reimagining what it means to be qualified in the 21st century and ensuring that every Kenyan has a fair chance to learn, grow and succeed,” she said.