Representatives from more than 20 institutions from Kenya have met with 17 vice-chancellors from the UK at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) to look at advancing international partnerships in research, innovation, entrepreneurship and employability.
The Second UK-Kenya Vice-Chancellors’ Round Table, hosted by DMU’s Vice-Chancellor Prof Katie Normington, included visitors from the Kenyan Ministry of Education, The Kenyan High Commission and the Kenyan Parliament as well as policy makers and thought leaders from Kenyan and UK higher education sectors.
The delegation from Kenya and the UK outside DMU's Georgian Rooms
The day-long meeting explored how to create more collaborations and partnerships through student and academic exchange programs, research, looking at distant learning and teaching and sharing experiences of higher education for the benefit of teaching, learning, research and community engagement in the two countries.
The meeting was part of a series of events on fostering networks and partnerships organised by DMU academics including Dr Chris Odindo and Dr Charles Kariuki as well as students from DMU and the University of Leicester.
Dr Odindo said: “For me, what I loved most about this event was that is about something that’s part of our DMU DNA as an empowering university, which is building local, national and global partnerships with purpose”
Dr Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Higher Education and Research in Kenya, said: “All the vice-chancellors have shared amazing stories about how they can engage with Kenya to advance work around health, information and communication technology, business and innovation, agriculture, engineering and the creative economy.
“It was also very important to clarify how partnerships can be structured, be sustainable and be mutually beneficial to Kenyan and UK institutions.
Monica Blagescu, Head of Education for the British Council in Kenya, said: “We are hugely grateful to DMU for opening their beautiful campus for this occasion. Every time we create opportunities for like-minded people to connect, we build stronger trust and understanding, which leads to stronger and more positive engagement.
“What stood out for me was the shared commitment to quality teaching, the commitment to robust research and the commitment to contribute towards the global public good."
Darius Mogaka Ogutu, Director of Higher Education in Kenya, said: “It was a wonderful engagement and so much was done in a very short time. We are now looking forward to a very productive year of collaborations and partnerships. I am excited for the future.
“For me the highlights today were acknowledging the importance and value to us all of creating opportunities for both Kenya and UK. There are so many pathways that can be taken forward in terms of more student mobility opportunities, transnational education, capacity development [to improve public services] and research collaboration.”
There are plans to host the next round table meeting with UK vice-chancellors in Kenya.
Posted on Wednesday 11 October 2023