The Open University of Kenya Enhances its Degree Programmes with Innovative Online Library Model

The Open University of Kenya (OUK), champion of online learning in Kenya, has announced a significant expansion of its partnership with Perlego, the digital learning platform changing how students access textbooks worldwide. Students and faculty at OUK will now gain unlimited access to Perlego’s vast library of books from the world’s leading academic publishers.

OUK expanded its partnership with Perlego as part of its broader commitment to providing affordable, flexible, quality learning experiences for all students. Following a successful pilot in 2025, OUK expanded the partnership to give students unlimited access to Perlego’s digital library, comprising 1.5 million e-books from esteemed academic publishers.

Breaking Down Barriers to Higher Education in Kenya

Founded in 2023, OUK was established to break conventional barriers and provide opportunities for more Kenyans to access university education. A critical challenge that OUK faced, along with many institutions in the Global South, is providing students with affordable access to high-quality academic resources. Perlego integrates with the University’s LMS and library discovery systems to provide students with seamless access to the vast catalogue of over 1.5 million e-books.

“We are pleased to strengthen our commitment through this collaboration with Perlego which provides our students and staff with access to a rich collection of academic e-books across multiple disciplines. This partnership enhances the depth, breadth and relevance of our digital collections while aligning perfectly with OUK’s digital-first learning model. By expanding access to quality academic content, we are empowering our learners and faculty to excel in teaching, learning and research in an increasingly digital world,” said Prof. Elijah Omwenga, the Vice Chancellor.

Perlego’s unlimited access model removes the problem of concurrent user access and reflects the University’s commitment to breaking down barriers to higher education. The partnership addresses several critical challenges facing OUK and higher education institutions across Africa:

• Immediate Access: Students get instant access to prescribed textbooks and supplementary material from day one.
• Cost Reduction: Eliminates the financial burden of purchasing expensive textbooks.
• Access to high-quality, relevant academic books: Provides access to thousands of additional titles and textbooks for research and study.
• Embedding the digital library within the University ecosystem: Perlego seamlessly integrates with Moodle, OUK’s LMS and library discovery systems.

Driving Student Success at The Open University of Kenya

“We are delighted to expand our partnership with OUK and support this innovative institution in their mission to broaden access to higher education in Kenya,” said Gauthier Van Malderen, CEO and Co-Founder of Perlego. “This partnership demonstrates the importance of online learning in broadening access to higher education in Kenya and across the world."

OUK and Perlego are committed to building a long-term partnership to expand the University’s digital collection and drive student learning outcomes.

About The Open University of Kenya

The Open University of Kenya aims to address the pressing issue of limited capacity in traditional universities by employing innovative teaching and learning methodologies, including online and distance education. By leveraging technology and flexible learning modes, the University seeks to accommodate a larger number of qualified students, enabling them to pursue higher education without the constraints of physical presence and limited campus capacities.

About Perlego

Perlego is a digital learning platform that provides unlimited access to one of the world's largest catalogues of academic and professional e-books from leading publishers. As a student-first platform, Perlego is dedicated to ensuring an exceptional learning experience, reducing barriers to education, and improving student confidence and readiness to join the workforce. Perlego partners with hundreds of universities and companies worldwide to help them achieve their goals around digital transformation and student success.