The Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) Division, led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Ag.), Prof. Leonidah Kerubo, has begun a comprehensive university-wide data collection and alignment exercise. This bold initiative is part of the Division’s strategy to entrench support for researchers and promote visibility of the university’s research and innovation outputs.
The DVC kicked off the exercise at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, where she was received by the Faculty Dean, Prof. Jack Odhiambo. Later, the DVC’s team, which included the Director of Research and Enterprise, Prof. Thomas Ochuku, and the Director, Library and Information Services, Mrs Angela Mumo, visited the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST). The Acting Dean, Prof. Francis Nyongesa, and Associate Dean (Ag.), Prof. Sheila Okoth, received them.
The exercise, which attracted Department Heads and Directors of Research Institutes from both faculties, will cover all 10 faculties of the university.
Prof. Kerubo introduced a comprehensive data collection tool to consolidate the latest research outputs, innovation and commercialization activities, partnerships and collaborations, and community outreach, emphasising the functions of the RIE Division. The DVC said that a structured and reliable database will “streamline internal reporting in addition to promoting the University’s competitiveness for grants and international collaborations”. The exercise will lead to a department-level reporting system to avoid duplication of effort and ensure institutional memory.
The faculty visits also presented an opportunity for reflection and candid discussions to identify the issues for intervention by the RIE Division. The researchers stressed integration of the new data with the information already available in the RGMIS (Research Grants Management Information System). They appealed for support in developing quality publications, grant proposal writing, and administration of research funds. The Division is already working with the Library department towards indexing promising university journals. Plans are also in place to sensitize faculty on the Open Journal System (OJS) used to host existing university journals.
Researchers were also invited to submit policy briefs for publishing through the Division. Prof. Thomas Ochuku Mbuya encouraged researchers to attend the capacity-building activities organized by the Division and also update their profiles for enhanced visibility.
The RIE Division has deployed five interns to the faculties to provide administrative support for
The data collection exercise.