MK university holds sensitization forum for AHEAD program

Mount Kenya University has held a sensitization forum for African Higher Education Leadership in Advancing Inclusive Innovation for Development (AHEAD) program at the Senate Boardroom.

The project seeks to build the Kenyan, Tanzanian and Ugandan universities’ capacities to lead and manage innovation that best fits their countries’ inclusive and sustainable development needs.

AHEAD is a three-year capacity building project, which started in 2018 and is expected to end in 2021.

It brings together 4 universities from Europe (Romania, Poland, UK, Italy), a consultancy company from Bulgaria, 5 universities from Kenya, 2 universities from Tanzania and 3 universities from Uganda.

MKU Vice Chancellor Prof. Stanley Waudo thanked the AHEAD team for convening the meeting that allows stakeholders to understand the project activities.

Waudo said the project will help the University develop capacity to address areas that need innovation at the University, industries and within the community.

The forum attracted participation from key stakeholders from Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) as well as Central Region Chapter and Linking Industries with Academic (LIWA).

“The industry faces the problem of a workforce that is lacking in innovativeness; I hope that through AHEAD, this will be addressed. KAM is currently partnering with GIZ on a project that is focusing on improving technical skills among the youth since the main policy focus of KAM this year is to develop workers skills and support innovativeness.” KAM Central Region Coordinator Mr. Mutuma said.

Dr. Bibianne Waiganjo the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in-charge of Academic noted that some of the products we are buying from China are derived from student innovative projects.

She encouraged the participants to embrace the spirit of innovation in the curriculum and thanked KAM and LIWA for participating saying they should now work closely with the University.

The overall objective of the AHEAD program is to enhance the management, governance, teaching, research and evaluation capacities of the Kenyan, Tanzanian and Ugandan Partner Universities in view of enabling them to implement the knowledge triangle and better integrate their research, education and innovation functions in support of innovation for sustainable development and inclusive growth.

Dr. Peter G. Kirira, Director MKU Foundation is the AHEAD project manager at Mount Kenya University.