PAUSTI Welcomes New Cohort as Students Urged to Embrace Pan Africanism  

Prof. Victoria Ngumi makes her remarks

The Pan African University Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology, and Innovation (PAUSTI) based t Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has welcomed the 11th cohort of graduate students from across Africa.

The induction ceremony for the new cohort, consisting of 110 students from 35 African countries, emphasized  Pan-Africanism, research, and innovation as essential strategies for tackling African challenges.

During the event, held Friday, July 5, 2024, Prof. Turoop Losenge, Director of PAUSTI, welcomed the new students highlighting the privilege and responsibility of joining a premier Pan African institution. He underscored the importance of prioritizing their academic journey while representing their home countries with pride.

“You have joined a prestigious Pan African university. Intermingle, exchange cultures, and embrace this unique opportunity. It is PAUSTI’s mandate to train you to become leaders in your respective fields,” said Prof. Losenge.

Prof. Losenge assured the students that PAUSTI has established robust support systems to facilitate their academic success.

“We have allocated supervisors and mentors to each one of you for guidance in proposal development. Plans are in place to ensure you have sufficient resources for research and industry attachments. You will complete your research early and have industrial attachments in Kenya or industries across Africa,” he noted.

He urged the graduate students to produce high-quality research and publish in reputable journals, revealing that PhD students are required to publish at least two papers in Scopus-indexed journals, while Master’s students must publish at least one article.

In a pioneering move, Prof. Losenge also announced the introduction of an optional Swahili program to help students integrate better with Kenyan culture, reflecting PAUSTI’s commitment to fostering a holistic educational experience.

JKUAT Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi expressed her honor in welcoming the students noting that Africa is well represented through the students. She acknowledged the increased representation from Portuguese-speaking member states and the inclusion of students sponsored by the Japanese Africa Dream Scholarships.

Prof. Ngumi lauded the role played by PAUSTI as a critical component of the Pan African University (PAU), which she said, embodies the collective aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Prof. Ngumi called upon the students to align with African Union’s noble agenda and contribute to building a united, peaceful, and prosperous Africa.

“With your admission, you have become critical building blocks in the enviable narrative of the Pan African University,” said

Prof. Turoop Losenge addresses the inductees

Prof. Ngumi.

Recognizing the continent’s socio-economic challenges, Prof. Ngumi stressed the importance of harnessing the energy and creativity of Africa’s youth for positive transformation and praised the innovative and research capacities of previous cohorts, which have resulted in high-quality publications and practical innovations ready for commercialization.

The Vice Chancellor urged the students to leverage PAUSTI’s state-of-the-art Incubation Center of Excellence (PAUSTI CoE) to develop sustainable solutions to Africa’s challenges.

She reassured them of the strong support system in place, including a pool of highly trained faculty and modern laboratories, which are critical to their academic and research success.

“JKUAT remains committed to the PAU cause and will continue to faithfully play her part towards the full implementation of the African Union-led University,” affirmed Prof. Ngumi, further acknowledging the support from the African Union Commission, the Government of Kenya, and the Government of Japan, whose efforts have been instrumental in PAUSTI’s growth since its inception in 2012.

Prof. Ngumi challenged the students to prioritize their training and research.  “Africa has placed great hopes in you as the continent’s crucible for actionable knowledge in science and technology in realizing Africa’s developmental goals,” stated the Vice Chancellor.

Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research, Production, and Extensions, Prof. Jackson Kwanza, also addressed the students, urging them to be creative in maneuvering the challenges and opportunities and emphasized the importance of commercialization of research products.

“Your goal should be to see your research translate into tangible products that can be commercialized and make a difference in society,” said Prof. Kwanza.

A commemorative photo of 11th cohort induction ceremony
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