Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) today hosted a high-level delegation from The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS-UNESCO), marking a milestone in over a decade of collaboration aimed at advancing sustainable development through science and innovation in the Global South.
Led by Associate Programme Officer, Ms. Payal Patel, the delegation’s visit underscores the deepening ties between JKUAT and TWAS-UNESCO, organizations united in their commitment to fostering accessible education, ground-breaking research, and ethical innovation.
In her welcoming remarks, JKUAT Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi, hailed the partnership as a “testament to the enduring bridges of knowledge and collaboration.” She emphasized that the partnership aligns perfectly with JKUAT’s mission to foster accessible quality training and ground-breaking research for real-world transformation.
Prof. Ngumi challenged both institutions to build on this success, calling for “audacious, unified action” to address global challenges like climate change and health inequities. She expressed confidence that the partnership is only beginning to expand its bandwidth for impact.
“Our joint advocacy for regional centers of excellence has amplified Africa’s voice in global research arenas, resulting in enhanced visibility for Kenyan and African scholars,” Prof. Ngumi noted.
Prof. Ngumi’s speech was delivered by Prof. Robert Kinyua, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs who represented her at the event.
Ms. Patel said that TWAS-UNESCO had, since its founding in 1983, championed capacity building of early career scientists from developing countries through targeted funding of research, education, policy and diplomacy.
She commended JKUAT for producing high quality scientists, remarking that to have five TWAS-UNESCO grantees is no mean feat, considering the high number of applicants usually competing for the limited slots each year.
She challenged JKUAT students and staff to leverage the opportunities provided by TWAS-UNESCO to acquire technical skills and build international networks that can inspire and drive solutions to global challenges.
The tangible outcomes of the decade-long synergy between the two institutions are indeed profound. A key highlight is the establishment of a pioneering Social Robotics Lab within the School of Computing and Information Technology. This initiative, catalysed by a 2022 TWAS-UNESCO Southern Grant (SgNAPI), has integrated robotics into the curriculum, enabling students to develop interactive robots for sectors like healthcare and education, including tools to aid students with special needs.
Furthermore, the collaboration has been instrumental in building scientific capacity at JKUAT. To date, TWAS funding has supported seven postgraduate students (one PhD and six MSc) to completion, covering tuition, stipends, and research. This investment has also yielded eight peer-reviewed scientific publications and enhanced the university’s laboratory infrastructure with new equipment.
The visit included dialogues on future initiatives, with both parties expressing optimism about joint projects in ethical AI, sustainable agriculture, and inclusive technologies. It underscores a shared commitment to amplifying Africa’s voice in global research and using science as a pillar for sustainable development and peace.
The meeting was also attended by Prof. Jackson Kwanza, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Production and Extension; Prof. Arnold Onyango, Dean School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, among others.
