Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology has launched its Strategic Plan covering 2023-2027 period. The blueprint, was unveiled in a colourful ceremony presided over by the Principal Secretary, State Department for Higher Education and Research, Dr. Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, at JKUAT Main Campus grounds on Tuesday June 25, 2024.

Dr. Inyangala in speech read by Dr. Jemimah Onsare lauded JKUAT for its strong training, research and innovation programmes, that she added, had impacted Kenya’s development. The PS noted that in an increasingly dynamic education landscape, universities like JKUAT must seek new tactics to remain innovative, adaptable and productive.

Dr. Inyangala said the new Strategic Plan would facilitate a five-prong success strategy across academic excellence, research and innovation, community engagement, institutional sustainability and global visibility.

Chair of Council Dr. James Onsando said the Plan would facilitate JKUAT’s transition into a truly research and entrepreneurial university. This, he added, be achieved through bringing to market all new technologies, products and services by JKUAT.

“Currently, JKUAT holds seventy-two intellectual property rights for various IP assets that includes fifteen patents, twenty-three utility models, twenty-nine trademarks, three copyrights and two industrial designs,” Dr. Onsando said.

The Council Chair added that JKUAT will draw from its unique niche areas, being the only technical and agricultural university, to serve the development aspirations of the people of Kenya.

Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi said that JKUAT had, in the last two decades, embraced strategic planning as a way of ensuring effective delivery of its mandate, through efficient and sustainable use of resources as well as compliance with the set regulations governing operations of state institutions.

“For the last two decades, JKUAT has leveraged strategic planning as a way of ensuring effective delivery of its mandate, through efficient and sustainable use of resources as well as compliance with the set regulations governing operations of state institutions,” Prof. Ngumi said.

In developing the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, JKUAT paid close attention to national, regional and global development frameworks such as Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), Kenya Vision 2030, Africa Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This Plan is anchored on six key result areas namely: Policy, Leadership and Governance; Market-Driven Training; Research, Innovation and Extension; Administration and Operational Services; Financial Management; and Resource Mobilization. The Strategic Plan was developed in compliance with the revised guidelines for preparation of Fifth- Generation Strategic Plans.

Also launched alongside the Strategic Plan were the newly designed JKUAT website and 12 university policies covering various issues including credit transfer, award of honorary degree, intellectual property management, security, students’ attachment, and Alcohol, Drug and Substance Abuse Prevention.

The new website is primed to boost JKUAT’s global visibility, while strengthening interactive communication and information dissemination to different stakeholders.