Professor Fred Simiyu Barasa is a Kenyan and DAAD Scholar who holds a PhD in Comparative and International Education from the University of Natal (South Africa). He is also an alumnus of Kenyatta University (Kenya) where he obtained his first two degrees – a Bachelor of Education (Science) and a Master of Education. He is a holder in undergraduate studies in Physics, Chemistry and Education from Kenyatta University, and later undertaken master and doctoral studies with research focus on technical education and vocational training.

He has a wide teaching, research and management experience at university level. Previously, he has served as the Executive Director/CEO of the African Council for Distance Education (ACDE), which is a continental standard setting and unifying body of African Open and Distance Learning universities and the African Union lead implementing agency for distance education and e-learning.

He has also served as Dean of the School of Education, Arts and Theology at Kabarak University and held several senior management positions at Egerton University, including being founding Director of the College of Distance Education, serving as Dean of the Faculty of Education and Human Resources and Chairman of the Department of Educational Foundations.

Further, Professor Barasa served as Manager for Academic Program Development and Management at the African Virtual University (AVU), and has several years of working experience in development of distance learning materials and management of learner support systems in dual and mixed mode contexts in African universities.

Moreover, he has been commissioned by various international development organizations and governments in Africa as an advisor and lead education consultant in quality assurance, program monitoring and evaluation, teacher management and development, education policy analysis and development, as well as analysis of education system efficiency and effectiveness. In addition, he has not only been recognized by various universities and organizations across Africa and worldwide, and has also made significant scholarly contributions through publishing in and serving as editor of internationally reputable journals.