Council, the top university organ has pledged its commitment to support management to address emerging challenges that have the potential to hinder the University from fulfilling its mandate of teaching and research.
Amb. Loyatum test-drives one of the innovations in the Engineering Production section.
Making their inaugural inspection tour of JKUAT facilities, Tuesday, September 24, 2013, the team made an undertaking to support the University to acquire modern equipment to support the marked increased expansion witnessed in the University that has seen the total number of students swell from slightly over 7,000 in less than five years to the current figure of over 30, 000 students.
Amb. Loyatum, leader of the Council team perusing one of the numerous volumes on display in the University Bookshop flanked by other members of the Council and management.
Ambassador Steven Loyatum, who represented Council Chairman Dr. Ekuru Aukot, led two of his Council colleagues; Bertha Dena, Council Treasurer, and Diana Mambo- representing the National Treasury, in an extensive tour of the various university departments guided by Prof. Romanus Odhiambo, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs and Prof. Victoria Ngumi, Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Planning and Development (APD).
Ambassador Loyatum used the occasion to assure faculty, the visit had given them an opportunity to assess the status of facilities in the university which would enable Council to propose possible increased budgetary allocations to acquire new facilities.
Dr. Joseph Wafula, ICT Director explains to the Council delegation the operations of the ICT sever. On Dr. Wafula’s left is Dr. George Gatero, Acting University Librarian.
The Council official paid tribute to the University Management led by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Mabel Imbuga for steering JKUAT which he said had made a notable presence not only in Kenya but also in sub-Saharan Africa.
Before embarking on the tour, the council officials received a brief from the three main Divisions: Academic Affairs (AA), Research Production and Extension (RPE), and Administration, Planning and Development(APD).
Representing the Academic Affairs Division, Acting Registrar, Mr. Antony Kiswi told the team, the university had launched a total of 40 new programmes in various disciplines during the 2013/14 Academic Year, spread in various colleges and faculties. Mr. Kiswi added the international student programme aimed at boosting JKUAT global presence in line with the University’s Vision, had currently attracted close to 650 students.
The Council and Management admire the actualization of the new College of Health Sciences construction.
Mr. Kamau Chege, Acting Registrar ( RPE) appealed to the Council to enhance his division’s internal research fund from 0.3 percent to 3 percent of the total university budget. This, he said, wouldl support researchers to increase research and innovation outputs.