Universities challenged to prepare students to be positive disruptors in the entrepreneurship field by through technology

Kenya's High Commissioner to the UK HE Manoah Esipisu sharing a light moment with the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) Chairman Dr. Ezekiel Mutua during the 5th International and Interdisciplinary Research Conference at Mount Kenya University

Universities have been challenged prepare their students to be positive disruptors in the entrepreneurship field by using technology.

Speaking during his presentation at the 5th International and Interdisciplinary Research Conference at Mount Kenya University, Kenya's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom HE Manoah Esipisu said that technological advancements in the country have created a facilitative environment for multinationals to do business in Kenya, consequently creating thousands of jobs for Kenyans.

“Universities should commercialise their research and move from merely having ideas into making money from those ideas. Universities that have flexible charters have partnered with other public and private entities to increase utilisation of existing technological facilities for improved output,” said Esipisu.

He challenged senior scholars to allow younger scholars to explore their ideas of innovation without putting them down to ensure they remain creative.

The envoy added that the government will continue to support universities within the existing framework to realize their technological dreams in the digital environment.

On his part, the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) Chairman Dr. Ezekiel Mutua asked universities to research so as to determine ways in which ICT can be used innovatively and responsibly.

He acknowledged the fact that the internet has redefined the ways of accessing information given there were 4,208,571,287 internet users in June 2018 (Minimartals Marketing Group).

“The phenomenal growth in ICT in Kenya has increased the opportunities available for innovation and creativity in the communication industry,” said Mutua.

However, he said, the media, and more so in the arena of social media, was a double edged sword in that the influence and pressure to attract traffic to social media has blurred the line between authentic and fake news.

“The media is the watchdog for the society. In the era of social media, we must however ask ourselves who is watching the watchdog. The advent of technology and reliable internet, access to information and misinformation is now prevalent. Consumers of information are exposed to unverified content, misleading information and are at the mercies of cyber bullies and pseudo journalists,” he said.

Other speakers who spoke at the forum included the Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence Taskforce Chairman Prof. Bitange Ndemo, Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi,

The objective of this conference was to provide opportunities to share research findings, collaborative and joint research, opportunities to exhibit academic innovations and products, fora to engage with scholars and networks between scholars and other professionals.