The University of Nairobi, Kenyan Government through Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) and Korean Advanced Institute of Sciences and Technology (KAIST) have been in partnership to establish a consortium of KAIST in Kenya.
“Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, KAIST Kenya, is about to admit its first cohort of students,” announced the CEO of Konza, Eng. John Tanui, during a public lecture by the 16th President of KAIST, Dr. Sung-Chul Shin at Taifa Hall on Wednesday, Feb 13, 2019.
KAIST Kenya, a consortium of the Korean Institute of Science and Technology in Konza City is a graduate school based on Science and Technology courses. It will have 3 faculties whose core programme would include: Mechanical, Electrical, and ICT Engineering; Chemical, Civil and Agriculture; Engineering/Biotechnology, and Basic Science Education such as Maths and Physics.
While delivering his public lecture, Dr. Shin, KAIST President, gave an overview of the rapid development of Korea as a country and KAIST contribution to the development. He spoke on KAIST’s past achievements, present, and future plans, citing that through continued partnership Kenya vision 2030 will be achievable and Kenya will be globally competitive.
Dr. Shin emphasized innovation, science and technology and their impact on Society as the main objective of this institute. He drew examples of how KAIST has spearheaded rapid development in Korea by saying that Korea as a country took the shortest time to be industrialized, urbanized, democratized and moved from a third world country to a developed country.
While giving his welcoming remarks, the Vice Chancellor UoN, Prof. Peter Mbithi, said, “we are proud that the University of Nairobi was selected as the local education partner to work with the Korean KAIST. Based on our local expertise, we will provide local advisory and consulting services via the University planning (Training and Education) for the project. The University will provide services such as; educational planning, curriculum design, industry-academic collaboration, University management planning, and other related training.”
The Kenya KAIST will thus: be a specialized graduate-only degree-awarding institution of strategic national importance (i.e. science and research centered university); train highly skilled researchers in Science, engineering, and technology; and be expected to provide intellectual guidance to all educational partners in the Konza Technopolis.
Dr. Arch. Reuben Mutiso, Chairman of Konza Technopolis Development Authority expressed his gratitude of seeing a mission accomplished. He congratulated all the stakeholders involved in the establishment and urged them to continue with the development.
This article was first published in the University of Nairobi website.