Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA), have initiated talks aimed at forging a collaborative partnership in research and knowledge exchange.
Located in Nairobi, IFRA supports and promotes interdisciplinary research in the humanities and social sciences across Eastern Africa.
The proposed partnership between the two institutions envisions joint research initiatives, academic exchanges, capacity-building programs, and the co-creation of knowledge to address both regional and global challenges. The discussions focused on exchanging library resources, including shared access to research databases, academic publications, and archival materials, in support of scholarly work and institutional development.
Welcoming the Director of IFRA, Dr. Sylvain Racaud, the JKUAT Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi underscored the university’s commitment to strategic partnerships that enhance academic excellence, drive innovation and contribute to sustainable development through collaborative research.
“JKUAT is keen to explore opportunities that will strengthen our research capacity, promote intercultural academic exchange, and contribute to solving real-world challenges through a collaborative approach,” said, Prof. Ngumi.
The Vice Chancellor further underscored the importance of actualizing the collaboration, describing it as a catalyst for advancing knowledge creation and enhancing academic linkages.
Lauding IFRA’s strength in research and its rich academic resources, Prof. Ngumi noted that the partnership, once realized, would significantly enrich JKUAT’s academic environment by improving access to research databases, scholarly publications, and other key resources thereby supporting the university’s research agenda.
Dr. Racaud expressed IFRA’s strong interest in fostering research and academic cooperation, particularly in the fields of human and social sciences, among other areas of mutual interest.
He said, the anticipated collaboration would serve as a platform for deepening academic ties, facilitating joint research, and enhancing knowledge exchange between the two institutions.
“This visit, we hope, will pave the way for a lasting partnership that fosters academic growth, drives impactful research, and creates a robust exchange of knowledge between JKUAT and IFRA,” the Director noted.
Dr. Racaud also highlighted the value of IFRA’s rich online library and extensive research archives, stating that they would provide JKUAT scholars with valuable academic resources to deepen the quality and breadth of their research.
During his visit, Dr. Racaud toured the university library, where he explored its facilities and assessed the academic resources available.
He also held candid discussions with staff from the College of Human Resource Development, focusing on potential areas of academic collaboration and shared interests.
