Kenyan varsities urged to invest in research, innovation

Universities in Kenya have been urged to carry out research and innovate to address modern challenges bedevilling the country and spur economic growth.

KCA University Chancellor Prof Olive Mugenda opines that research and innovation by higher learning institutions will also play a pivotal role in job creation while fostering collaboration with industries.

Prof Mugenda, who doubles as the Kenyatta University Teaching, Research and Referral (KUTRRH) Hospital board chair, said that for local Universities to continually receive recognition on the global stage, they must accelerate economic transformation through innovation.

Speaking during the university’s 16th graduation which also happened to be the inaugural bi-annual ceremony at the University’s main campus in Ruaraka, Prof Mugenda emphasized that the creation of new knowledge is key for social-economic development and rooted for increased funding for research projects.

She also encouraged collaborations between academia and industry to create a robust innovation ecosystem.

“The rest of the country looks up to universities to create the requisite new knowledge that is a major driver of economic growth. It is our duty to come up with data that informs policy formulation. Apart from generating income, innovations get into the marketplace and offer solutions for longstanding challenges facing the world,” Prof Mugenda said.

The Chancellor added that universities have a crucial role in being the hubs of knowledge and research, as well as breeding grounds for innovation.

Consequently, she said that there’s a need for institutions of higher learning and industries to collaborate in order to align academic research with industry needs and drive groundbreaking discoveries and technological advancements.

Her sentiments were echoed by Vice Chancellor and CEO Prof Isaiah Wakindiki who revealed that KCA is keen on fostering partnerships and collaborations with industries of various sectors.

This, he said, is to ensure a smooth transition of graduates from the lecture halls to the world of work through industry-driven curriculum development, mentorship programs, internships and job placement forums.

“KCA University is working closely with industries for mentorship of our students and consequent absorption into the job market. This synergy between us and the industry has resulted in the development of products and services that serve market demands while creating new markets and opportunities,” he said.

Wakindiki revealed that the university will henceforth be conducting two graduation ceremonies yearly in a bid to fast- track timely completion of students who would have otherwise waited for the traditional end-of-year graduation ceremony.

This, he said, will ensure that graduates enter the job market promptly and provide solutions to the socio-economic challenges facing the country.

The VC also revealed that the University has adopted Generative AI to revolutionize university education by enhancing personalization, efficiency and accessibility.

“At KCA University we have evaluated all our programmes to maximize benefits and mitigate potential risks. The top three areas that we have been working on include grading and assessment, enhanced research capabilities and virtual classrooms,” Prof Wakindiki said.

Prof Wakindiki also reiterated that the University through its strategic plan 2024-2028 will majorly focus on excellence in teaching and learning.

He said this will see the University re-evaluate its teaching and learning processes and programmes to align with the 3 career pathways proposed by the presidential working party on education reforms including Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM), Arts & Sports and Social Sciences.

Our goal is to produce graduates who are not only knowledgeable but also innovative, holistic and ready to tackle the challenges of the future.