MKU To Put Up A Sh. 1 Billion School Of Engineering In Thika.

MKU Chairman Simon Gicharu and Prof. George A. O. Magoha cutting a cake to celebrate 20 years of existence

Mount Kenya University (MKU) will soon put up a Ksh 1 billion School of Engineering in Thika that will be modeled to be a centre of excellence in the East African region.

This was revealed by MKU Chairman Simon Gicharu during the 11^th Graduation Ceremony at their Pavilion Grounds where 7,249 students graduated with various honours.

Gicharu also announced that the institution had received a grant of Ksh. 90 million from by Africa Economic Research Consortium to support an enterprise academy that will support their former students in positioning themselves in job creation through building sustainable enterprises. The academy will help MKU alumni start their own business, go freelance and enhance their enterprise skills.

“As I mentioned in Namibia when I was conferred an Honorary Professorship, we as MKU Board of Directors want to see our alumni grow and it is because of this that I personally initiated graduate enterprise academy geared towards inculcating young entrepreneurs with skills. We want you students to start thinking about starting businesses tomorrow to beat the scarcity of the white collar jobs,” said Gicharu.

He discouraged the young people against the allure of making quick money and instead advised them on strategising on long-term investments.

While delivering his speech, varsity vice chancellor Prof Stanley Waudo said that their academic programmes were guided by the Kenyan Vision 2030 and the University 2015–2019 Strategic Plan whose design took into account the required standards that provided a broad knowledge base.

Waudo said that MKU had for the last 20 years ensured that all their academic programmes complied with the set out national and international standards and guidelines to commensurate with institutional accreditation status. 

“The University Strategic Plan outlines plans for ensuring sustainability and continuous improvement during the implementation of the programmes. To ensure quality of the programmes, the University has internal quality assurance mechanisms and works closely with regulatory bodies including the Commission for University Education,” Prof Waudo said.

He added that recently, Senate approved the university’s seven (7) degree programmes, six (6) Bachelor’s Degree Programmes, one (1) postgraduate degree programme and four (4) certificate programmes.

Waudo argued that in a competitive environment such as the one universities operated in, defining strategic objectives and ensuring performance that was critical for sustainability and continuous improvement in both core and non-core areas.

“For one to be in a university and graduate without having a positive change of character can be described as an unfortunate outcome. Mount Kenya University ensures that its students do not experience such unfortunate outcomes. Besides developing academic competencies, our students also undergo character development through mentoring, counseling and guidance,” said Prof Waudo.  

He said Mount Kenya University is committed to continuous development of its strengths and competitive advantages, focusing on positioning itself among the top Universities.

“So far, there are signs that the University is moving towards positioning itself in the league category,” said the Don.

Speaking in the same forum, its chancellor Prof Victoria Wells Wulsin said, “In today’s global village, partnerships are key to socio-economic development among both developing and developed countries. Mount Kenya University has embraced partnerships within its academic, research and community-based activities.”

She noted that they had 43 linkages with public sector, 45 linkages in private sector and 72 with institutions of higher learning and research institutes from around the world that extended to as far as Asia, Namibia and Poland.

Prof. Grace N. Njoroge, who is the Chair, University Council, said that the Council focused on promotion of quality teaching, training and research especially in fostering science, technology and innovation besides fully supporting innovation-led economic growth and Development.

“The council recognises that to build a viable academic community, it is essential to put systems that support academic integrity, this is exemplified by the development and approval of policies that discourage engagement in plagiarism, unauthorised collaborations, cheating, altering marks, impersonation, Contracting other people to undertake thesis/assignments,  and other unethical practices. This will go a long way in ensuring honesty in teaching, assessments, research and the development of staff and students with enhanced character for nation building,” said Prof. Njoroge.

She said that the University produced well-trained graduates equipped with technological and scientific knowledge and abilities, endowed with ethical values founded on African traditions and principles.

“With these attributes, the University graduates are expected to act as role models in the society and be drivers of socio-economic activities,” she concluded.