MONDAY JULY 3, 2023
Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research Innovation and Enterprise Prof. Margaret J Hutchinson was invited for the official opening ceremony of Tripartite partnership agreement ,industry-academia workshop.
Prof Hutchinson mentioned Research and innovation as the driving forces behind the progress and development in any nation. They are the catalysts that propel us towards new frontiers of knowledge and discovery. Innovation knows no boundaries; it thrives on diversity, collaboration, and the collective brilliance of minds coming together.
As academics, Prof noted that they have the responsibility not only to generate knowledge but also to ensure its translation into tangible solutions that positively impact society. Research and innovation should not exist in isolation; they must be deeply rooted in addressing the needs and aspirations of our communities. By focusing efforts on finding practical solutions to real-world problems.
Prof Hutchinson urged all to foster an environment that nurtures and supports innovation.To create spaces where researchers can freely exchange ideas, where curiosity is nurtured, and where failure is seen as an opportunity for growth. Let us cultivate a culture of experimentation, risk-taking, and perseverance, knowing that great breakthroughs often emerge from unexpected places.
The University of Nairobi conceptualized the Engineering and Science Complex in 2015 with support from the Ministry of Education, National Treasury and the French Development Agency (AFD)
The complex aims to produce agile graduates who can drive Kenya’s industrialization agenda, vision 2030 as well as Medium Term Plan III and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In 2019, a feasibility study was done to ascertain the viability of the complex with a key focus on facilities, curricula, industry-academia linkage (company linkage), Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, including a PhD visiting program and Internationalization. To this end, the university has since signed a Tripartite Partnership Agreement (TPA) with two consortiums of French universities (University Saclay and ParisTech) with an aim of jointly advancing our mutual academic exchanges.
