- Don urged students in varsities to be innovative and entrepreneurial to fit in the highly competitive job market.
- Prof Munene averred that it's through these partnerships that students' innovations are honed and commercialised
Image: JOHN KAMAU
Universities have been urged to enhance strong collaborations with industries to promote students' innovations and create jobs for the youth.
Accreditation officer at the Commission for University Education, Prof Grace Njoroge said universities must create a link between learners and industry players to enable them to advance their innovative ideas and get industrial exposure.
Njoroge spoke at Zetech University on Tuesday during the varsity's fourth Sustainable Innovation and Research Conference.
He said collaborations between varsities and the industry will play a pivotal role in tackling most socio-economic provocations in the country.
"As a Commission, we have put in place proper policies and guidelines to help universities undertake quality research because we are aware through such initiatives students will tackle challenges like joblessness, illnesses and drought among others," she said.
The don called on students in institutions of higher learning to be innovative and entrepreneurial to fit in the highly competitive job market.
Zetech University Vice-chancellor Prof Njenga Munene said partnerships with industry players are key in unlocking the innovation potential of many learners in the country.
Prof Munene averred that it's through these partnerships that students' innovations are honed and commercialised for the benefit of the country's economy.
"This is why we have been growing the scope of our collaborations both locally and globally with like-minded organisations and institutions such as the county government of Kiambu, Safaricom, the Standard Group, Ajira Digital," Munene said.
"Absa Kenya, Oracle Corporation, the Kenya National Innovation Agency, Kenya Climate Innovation Centre, Johns Hopkins University-USA among others. The partnerships have a great impact on our students' excellence as well as industrial growth."
Munene said through the Zetech Innovation Entrepreneurship and Technology (iZET) Hub, which was launched last year, the varsity has mentored and incubated more than 30 innovators.
The innovators were mentored in automatic irrigation systems, robotics, document digitisation and recovery platforms, e-commerce platforms, e-waste recycling and the first made-in-Kenya USB cables.
"The iZET hub has also organised multiple hackathons, datathons and mentorship forums for students through collaborations. We are currently mentoring 50 students in diverse innovations," he said.
Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi who was represented by county Youth and Sports executive Eric Mwaura said he plans to create a kitty for the youth to create their own employment, add value to their products and link them to ready markets.
"The end goal is to create a conducive environment in which disruptive innovations can be developed to spur the entrepreneurial spirit and catalyse new areas of growth and opportunities," he said.
According to the 2019 national census, 75 per cent of Kenya's population are those aged between 18 and 35.
Despite being the majority, a large percentage of this group is jobless, unskilled or in casual labour with no support system which makes them vulnerable to crime, drug abuse, diseases and political manipulation.
"Not only have these challenges robbed our youth of their dignity and their claim in the county and country’s development, but they are impeding the nation’s vision of becoming a middle-income nation in under 10 years," he said.
"The county is aware of this and would like to reverse this trend before it’s too late."
(Edited by Tabnacha O)