JKUAT Selected to host Pan African University’s Science and Technology Theme

The Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology has won the right to host the East and Central Africa regional institute of the Pan African University (PAU).

The Institute on Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation will be hosted at the Main Campus in Juja and the first batch of postgraduate students will be reporting later in September. Making the announcement at the 43rd Senate meeting held Tuesday February 22, 2011, an elated Vice Chancellor, Prof Mabel Imbuga, thanked the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology for having confidence in the University.

The privilege to host the institute was bestowed on JKUAT after it emerged the best suited for the program among Kenyan institutions offering postgraduate education and research. The Institute will focus mainly on the three thematic areas, namely; Basic Sciences (Chemistry, Mathematics and Statistics, Physics and Biology), Technology (Civil, Electrical, Electronic, Mechanical, Computer Engineering, Chemical and Industrial Engineering), and Innovation—generating technology and knowledge products and developing them for the marketplace.

The PAU is an initiative of the African Union aimed at spearheading the revitalization of higher education in the continent. It is composed of five regional institutes, one located in each of the five regions in Africa. In the region comprising 13 countries, Kenya’s nomination to host the region’s institute was endorsed by the Heads of State Summit held in July, 2010 in Kampala, Uganda. Read more…

 

27 University Radio Interns Commence Field Attachment Under the Farmer Voice Radio Project

A total of 27 university radio interns (URIs) commenced their internship under the Farmer Voice Radio (FVR) Project from 14th February 2011. These interns were deployed to 17 districts in Central, Western, Nyanza, Coast and Eastern provinces in Kenya. Others were deployed to various radio stations such as KBC, Pwani FM and the project country office in Nairobi. This followed a successful one week training and orientation programme held from Monday January 31, 2011 to Friday February 4, 2011 in JKUAT Audio Visual Room.

The students were drawn from the departments of horticulture, Biomechanical and Environmental Engineering Department, Food science and Technology and physics Departments respectively. The purpose was to familiarize the URIs with FVR and its operations enlighten them on what they are expected to do during their period of attachment, and motivate and mentor the URIs before been deployed to the various locations. Read more…