Mount Kenya University (MKU) has unveiled its Nakuru campus as a centre of excellence for Animal Health, Agriculture and Education science. This will contribute to the national pursuit of food security, an agenda in line with United Nations Sustainable Goals.
MKU Vice Chancellor Prof. Deo Jaganyi says the initiative has resulted in an increase in student enrollment, programmes, and academic and research resources. “Recently, the campus received the best training and research equipment to support training in agriculture, animal health and production, and education science programme,” Prof. Deo Jaganyi said.
The VC spoke while addressing 4,500 graduands and thousands of parents and invited guests during the 22nd Graduation Ceremony on Friday December 9, 2022 at the institution’s main campus in Thika town. With its new status, the campus is now better equipped to train stable professionals who will lead the country’s agriculture sector in future .
Photo/ MKU students at an Animal health training.
The university Senate has meanwhile approved two new programmes: the Master of Science in Crop Protection and Photo-Sanitary Science, and the Diploma in Animal Health and Production (upgrading). “In the same period, the University Senate also approved a revised curriculum for the Bachelor of Science in Animal Health,” Prof. Jaganyi said.
The Nakuru campus is the latest to acquire centre of excellence status. MKU had designated Thika as a global hub of excellence in medical and human health.
Prof. Deo Jaganyi said the university has opened its doors to all members of the research community in Kenya to access and utilise its modern research facilities.
The College of Graduate Studies and Research is also running a multi-disciplinary concept research Call among faculty members through the Vice-Chancellor’s Seed Grant, which provides seed money to support research. Currently, 18 projects have been approved for financial support.
Photo/Poultry farming training at MKU
“To facilitate access to the university research facilities and enhance our community engagement, the University has embarked on the revision of its research policy in an effort to include newly developed guidelines for access to research equipment by members of the public and those from other institutions. This will foster the University’s community engagement activities as it seeks to impact positively on the communities in which we operate,” Prof. Jaganyi said.
Photo/MKU Nakuru Campus
To provide innovative solutions to the society, 20 incubates are hosted in the MKU Innovation and Incubation Hub for a six-month training up to February 2023. As part of showcasing the innovation projects, the University secured sponsorship from the British Council to support three of the top innovators at the hub and one staff member during the Kenya Innovation Week 2022 (KIW) in November 2022.
