Evelyn College is the pioneering design school in East Africa and beyond, having played the foundational role in bringing the design profession to this part of the world. In the mid-1970s I saw that while we enjoyed the services of tailors there were no local fashion designers whose garments they could produce. So this is what inspired me to establish Evelyn College of Design, which opened its doors in 1976. Students joined us not only from around Kenya but from many other African countries, and we are so proud that many of them went on to great careers in the industry, including far afield in Europe and the US.
Now here we are, with over four decades of existence behind us, still developing the best of designers. We enjoy very strong industry linkages, which facilitate not only academic collaboration but also provide job and internships opportunities to our students during and after completing their studies. A very strong alumni base also makes it easy for us to foster strong ties with the industry within which they operate.
Another source of great pride is our BTEC representation, which enables us to offer this globally recognised qualification. Not only that in general terms, but in these very challenging days of restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, our partnership with BTEC has given us access to the best of on-line teaching and learning techniques, enabling us to continue with our programmes uninterrupted, right to the point of assessments and certification.
We are currently waiting for certification to deliver TVET courses by Kenya’s TVET Authority, and we can’t wait to be allowed to get these going once we are able to do so. (Unfortunately no on-line option for delivering these is allowed here in Kenya at this time.)
We have the best of faculty at the college, and they are therefore able to get the best out ofour students. Imagine how good I feel as the founder of this institution, seeing such wonderful momentum despite living through this Covid-19 era.
