DIES NMT Workshop II at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

Karatina University together with partner Universities namely Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), Kenyatta University and Maseno University undertook a four-day training workshop for university academic Deans and Directors under the auspices of DIES National Multiplication Training (NMT) at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology in Kakamega.

This was the second workshop with the first having been held at Karatina University in December 2017. It was conducted under the theme “Training Deans and Directors on Quality Leadership and Management: A Driver of Change in Higher Education”. This workshop was encapsulated with the knowledge that Deans and Directors in public universities in Kenya are faced with myriad of issues bordering on quality service delivery, leadership and management; all core in ensuring that they deliver services to their clients.

The workshop was sponsored by DAAD through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development in Germany having been conceived through a project call for proposal to DAAD that was successfully submitted, evaluated and won by a team of four experts from the partner universities and coordinated by Prof. P. Aloo-Obudho, Deputy Vice Chancellor (ARSA), Karatina University. Members of the project team undertook training in Germany on leadership and therefore versed to multiply the training to other levels of university management.

Call for training was put to Deans and Directors of public universities in Kenya with a set selection criteria, 23 (twenty-three) academic Deans and Directors were selected for the training. The participants were drawn from the following universities: Karatina University, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenyatta University, Maseno University, Jaramogi Odinga Oginga University of Science and Technology, Rongo University, University of Kabianga, Zetech University, Cooperative University of Kenya, Meru University of Science and Technology, Technical University of Kenya and Mount Kenya University with all the participants having successfully completed Workshop One.

The Workshop was officially opened by Prof. Frederick A. Ochieng’ Otieno, Vice-Chancellor, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology on Wednesday, 27^th July 2018. In his remarks, Prof. Otieno appreciated the wonderful relations among universities to work together for a common goal and not necessarily competing on fronts. He therefore recognized that synergy needed to be cultivated and collaborations expanded. He underscored that the thematic concerns of the workshop are relevant in the current dynamics of university leadership.

Other notable guests included Prof Anne Nangulu, Deputy Director (Quality Assurance) at the Commission for University Education (CUE) who presented on the role of Deans and Directors in universities.  The other key speakers were Prof. B. Wangila, former Vice Chancellor, MMUST; Prof. Frank Ziegele, CHE Germany and International Expert; Ms. M. Kirai, DAAD; Prof. Litondo, Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Maseno University; Prof. A. Sigot, MMUST; Prof. E. Abenga, MMUST; Prof. F. Waswa, Kenyatta University; Prof. F. Indede, Maseno University and Mr. J. Rading, MMUST.

The training focused on the following core areas: Quality Assurance issues in your Faculty/Directorate; Common Mistakes made by Deans and Directors: Personal Experience; Interpersonal Relationships in the Faculty; Conflict Resolution and Management; Rationalization of University Academic Programmes; Leadership and Management: Sharing experiences; Financial Management at Faculty level; Resource Mobilization and Research Management and finally, Lessons Learnt and Way Forward. These core issues were presented by the experts interactively with participants sharing experiences borne out of Workshop One and from their universities. There was a common standpoint that the training illuminated on current leadership issues that impact to Deans and Directors.

After the lengthy training, participants were treated to an excursion visit of the Nabongo Mumias Shrine at Mumias Town. They had the privilege of learning the rich history of the Wanga Kingdom, its dynasty and genealogy that dates from 1051 AD to the current monarch King Peter Nabongo. Lessons on cultural preservation and heritages were learnt and especially now that Karatina University has a centre for Mau Mau Studies in place to document local rich histories through the ages.