A delegation from the Egypt Japan University of Science & Technology (E-JUST) are at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) to strengthen frameworks of strategic partnerships between the two universities.
Established through bilateral cooperation between the governments of Kenya and Egypt, respectively, JKUAT and E-JUST have grown to be leading centres of academic and research excellence in Africa. Their synergy promises to unleash even more benefits to the continent in terms of training, research and technology transfer.
Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Robert Kinyua who received the delegation on Thursday July 17, lauded the cooperation between JKUAT and E-JUST noting that the exchanges have delivered mutually beneficial results. He said five JKUAT staff who received graduate training in E-JUST are currently making significant contributions to the growth of JKUAT.
“Leveraging the Japanese link, we have cultivated a good environment for additional cooperation and this will benefit our institutions, our countries and our continent,” Prof. Kinyua said.
The Acting Vice Chancellor informed the visiting delegation that JKUAT has gown over the years to become a comprehensive state university with leading ranks in terms of student numbers, course diversification and intellectual property portfolio.
E-JUST’s Vice President for Education and Academic Affairs, Prof. Sameh A. Nada who led the delegation noted that as forefront institutions, JKUAT and E-JUST are well positioned to promote creative and impactful interactions among African and Japanese Universities.
He said, E-JUST has proudly championed research agenda in Africa, becoming a leading University in Egypt with good number of international students drawn from Africa.
Accompanying Prof. Sameh to JKUAT were: Prof. Mohammed Sharaf Ismail Sayed, Dean of School of Electronics, Communications and Computer Engineering; Prof. Amr Abdelmotagaly Nassrallah, Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences; and Prof. Tsunoda Manabu, Chief Advisor, JICA E-JUST Project.
Japan international Cooperation Agency (JICA) has played an important role in supporting the establishment of both JKUAT and E-JUST. The agency is currently working to promote integration of African and Japanese ideas and technologies for sustainable solutions to development challenges on both sides. African universities already tapped for the partnership include JKUAT, E-JUST and Stellenbosch University in South Africa.
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration and Finance) Prof. Bernard Ikua; and Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Production and Extension, Dr. Hiram Ndiritu and AFRICA-ai-JAPAN Project Chief Advisor, Prof. Hiroshi Koaze also addressed the meeting.
