The Principal Secretary, State Department of Higher Education and Research, Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, has hailed the internationalization agenda being championed through the EU-funded Italia Academia with Africa (ITACA) project – an initiative that brings together four Italian universities and ten African universities with Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) representing Kenya.
The Permanent Secretary said, ‘Internationalization is a key strategic objective for the Commission for University Education which is involved in ensuring the enhancement of quality standards in our universities.”
The PS made the remarks when she addressed project partners and stakeholders drawn from Kenya and Italy, during the closing of the Internationalizing Italia Academia in Africa project in Nairobi on Friday, April 18, 2026.
The PS was represented by the Secretary, State Department of Higher Education and Research, Dr. Caro Hunja, who lauded “universities for taking the initiative and engaging with international partners.”
The Government of Kenya, the PS said, “was truly grateful for the kind of interactions and relationships that have been nurtured with Italy over time.”
She noted that “Kenya and the Italian republic enjoy a robust and multidimensional partnership anchored in decades of cooperation and cultural, scientific and technological development,” further stating, the cooperation lay on a foundation of shared values and principles aimed at fostering sustained growth and shared prosperity.
The PS recalled a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Kenya and Italy, in 2006 on cultural and scientific cooperation and technology cooperation that encourages “development of cooperation between the two countries, through intensified-inter university academic agreements and engagement in joint research on common interests.”
She further stated that in February 2026, another MoU on higher education and research was signed for cooperation in areas such as agri-tech and food science, climate change management and renewable energy, high performance computing and AI applications, marine sciences, medical sciences, biology, engineering sciences and technology, and humanities and social sciences.
The PS, added that Kenya-Italy cooperation continues to grow with a strong emphasis on sustainable economic partnership, which remains an important anchor in supporting Kenya’s national economic development priorities while fostering mutual benefits to both countries.
The Permanent Secretary announced that a new project called the ATLANTIS (Advancing Learning and Academic Networks for Transformation, Innovation and Sustainability) is set to be launched and it will entail the development of professional courses in postgraduate studies, creation of research opportunities and networks for knowledge exchange.
Speaking at the function, Deputy Ambassador of the Italian Embassy in Kenya, Macco Scoppa, said, “Research and higher education are not just sectors of cooperation they are among the most strategic sectors of cooperation that Italy follows in its international engagements.”
The diplomat said, “through research and cooperation in higher education, we foster exchange of knowledge nurture innovation, build people to people relationships and long-term partnerships between institutions and societies.”
These connections, he added, “are essential not just for academic growth but for progress; addressing complex challenges both in Italy, Kenya, Europe and in Africa.”
Commenting on the place of scientific diplomacy, the diplomat said, “it is a key tool. It is complementary to our political and economic and commercial diplomacy, and helps us to promote strategic partnerships in both in universities and industries at all levels and contributes to sustainable development.”
The Deputy Ambassador revealed that one of the key areas of scientific cooperation is space, where the Kenya Space Agency and Italian Space Agency are working to expand a space center in Malindi to a school for space science and a lab.
He further stated that Italy is increasingly investing in tech diplomacy, citing the recent activities such as a forum on Artificial Intelligence held in Nairobi, and the visit of the Italian Minister for University Science and Research as an important step towards strengthening bilateral cooperation.
Mr. Scoppa indicated that joint initiatives and projects such as ITACA are part of the long-term partnership vision between Kenya and Italy within the framework of the Mattei Plan as well as bilateral aimed at generating tangible results in advanced training, innovation, technology transfer, and creating opportunities for students, researchers and industries in both our countries.
In her remarks, JKUAT Vice Chancellor Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi, said, JKUAT signed a cooperation agreement with four Italian universities namely; Universities of Catholic of Milan, Turin, Urbino and Polytechnic Del Mache on July 27, 2025, that paved the way for JKUAT students and staff exchange program.
The Vice Chancellor reported that “JKUAT has been selected for an upcoming project for students and staff mobility called the ATLANTIS which shall involve 4 Italian universities in Italy and one university in France and a number of African universities.”
She sincerely appreciated the Italian partners for the opportunity accorded to JKUAT students and staff to participate in the ITACA program and to be part of the new ATLANTIS project.
Prof. Mario Molteni, Director of ITACA and Africa Plan, in a virtual presentation, highlighted the main objectives of the Africa Plan as well as the future developments, while the Director, Office for the Internationalization of Research at the Italian Ministry of University and Research), Dr. Michele Mazzola, illuminated on the ministry’s perspective on internationalization, noting, “university education is not confined within national boarders but it is a space where universities work together to generate knowledge, innovation and opportunity” and emphasized on strengthening higher education cooperation between Kenya and Italy.
ITACA JKUAT Project Coordinator, Dr. Clifford Obiero, appreciated JKUAT Management for its excellent support to students and staff in the project, noting, JKUAT was the most active institution among the 10 African universities. He said, ITACA aims “to strengthen Italian academic knowledge and competencies and scaling at international level.” The trainings he stated, were very impactful and exciting as participants got opportunity to showcase their innovations as well as to market products.
Dr. Obiero reported that the last training on: Sustainable and Community-based Tourism for Social Change and Value Creation, is set to be conducted at Karen Campus on Tuesday, April 21-23, 2026.
On his part, Dr. Giacomo Ciambotti expounded on the value of higher education collaboration between Italy and Kenya and a sneak preview of what to expect in future engagements, including what ATLANTIS promises to deliver, among other issues.
JHUB Africa Founder, Dr. Lawrence Nderu, one of the key partners implementing the project at JKUAT moderated one of the most engaging round table sessions, where discussants shared experiences during the exchange program in Italy, and training workshop experiences of startups engaged in green economy and climate change, challenges encountered and their proffered solutions.
ITACA aims to promote internalization of Italian Academia in Africa through a robust and effective plan built on the pillars of international mobility, inter-university co-operation, capacity building and joint programs.
Key project partners present also spoke including E4 IMPACT, Eco Tourism, Greener Cities, Italian Agency for International Cooperation.
Various representatives of public and private universities expressed readiness to work with Italian universities on future initiatives to foster internationalization through higher education.
