MKU students leave for Germany as a new innovation exchange programme takes off

Three students from Mount Kenya University (MKU) have been selected to participate in a prestigious two-and-a-half-month innovation exchange programme in Munich, Germany. The fully-funded initiative is part of the “Africa Meet” programme by the Digital Product School by UnternehmerTUM, Germany’s leading centre for innovation and business creation.

Joy Watiti, Clifford Musyoka and Mark Kiarie’s selection follows the successful completion of a five-month intensive training that began in December 2024, involving 30 students drawn from various university campuses. The programme, delivered in partnership with trainers from MKU and the Technical University of Munich, equipped students with cutting-edge skills in design thinking and agile methodologies.

Working in diverse teams of five, the participants assumed various roles and collaboratively developed digital product prototypes, turning innovative ideas into potential startups. Their hard work culminated in April 2025, marking the end of a transformative journey in entrepreneurship and product development.

All 30 students received certificates from the Technical University of Munich, which were formally presented yesterday by Prof Peter Kirira, the University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Administration, Planning and Institutional Advancement. 

The occasion marked a proud moment for both the students and the institution, celebrating the achievements of the programme’s first cohort. The project, led by Dr Henry Yatich, Principal, College of Graduate Studies and Research, with trainers Mr. Donatus Njoroge and Ms. Margaret Mwinji, is scheduled to run until 2026, expanding students' global outlook and entrepreneurial skills.

Recognizing their achievement, MKU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Deogratius Jaganyi, applauded the students for leveraging the university’s Innovation and Incubation Centre to transform entrepreneurial ideas into viable ventures.

In a celebratory gesture, the VC also presented a symbolic flight ticket to the three selected students, who will soon join Germany’s vibrant startup ecosystem.

Prof Jaganyi encouraged them to be excellent ambassadors for MKU, urging them to seize opportunities during their exchange visits to innovation hubs in Bavaria between May and July 2025.

“This exchange is more than just a learning experience — it’s an opportunity for our students to engage with the global innovation landscape,” said Mr. Donatus Njoroge, Head of Innovation, Intellectual Property and Community Engagement at MKU.

We’re proud to be one of only two Kenyan institutions participating, alongside partners from Ghana and Ethiopia,” he added. 

The initiative is fully supported by the Bavarian State Chancellery, aiming to strengthen innovation and knowledge exchange between African and Bavarian ecosystems. The current cohort marks the beginning of a long-term partnership, with the next group of participants expected to join later in 2025.

Africa Meets Bavaria Project

The university has also unveiled the second edition of its Annual Research Bulletin (2024), showcasing MKU’s expanding research portfolio.

Dr. Henry Yatich, Principal of the College of Graduate Studies and Research, noted that MKU is intensifying efforts to support research across all campuses and disciplines, including strengthening collaborations and enhancing research support structures. 

He particularly recognized the contributions of postdoctoral fellows, technical staff, research assistants, and support staff in achieving the university’s research objectives.

During the event, Prof Jaganyi announced that MKU, through the College of Graduate Studies and Research, is collaborating with the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) to pursue the Good Financial Grant Practice (GFGP) Gold Certification in 2025. He said APHRC has committed to supporting MKU by paying the initial subscription fee.

Achieving GFGP certification will elevate MKU’s capacity for international grant management and further establish its reputation as a leading research-driven institution. 

MKU also officially launched the second cycle of the Vice-Chancellor’s Research and Innovation Grant 2024/2025. This milestone follows a competitive and rigorous internal and external review process involving researchers from all 13 schools across the university. Following careful evaluation, seven schools successfully secured grant.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Research Affairs, Dr. Mercyline Kamande, congratulated the winners and emphasized that the grant is intended as a seed fund.

She urged the researchers to demonstrate prudent financial management, tangible project outputs and active involvement of postgraduate students, noting that building research capacity among students is key to nurturing the next generation of scholars.

As MKU serves as the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) Hub for Sustainable Development Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), the Vice-Chancellor emphasized that current and future research initiatives must align with and contribute to the SDGs.

He called upon all faculty and staff to embrace research and innovation as central to the university’s mission of promoting sustainable development and positively impacting communities.

During the ceremony, 14 principal investigators and seven co-investigators were formally recognized for their outstanding contributions and leadership in driving MKU’s research agenda forward.