International Conference on Entrepreneurial Universities in Africa

October 7, 2021 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
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7TH OCTOBER, 2021.

Key Highlights of the Vice Chancellor’s speech

Karatina University (KarU) Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mucai Muchiri attended the International Conference on Entrepreneurial Universities in Africa held at the Mount Kenya University and jointly organized by Developing Entrepreneurial Universities in Kenya (DEpUK) and Collaboration of Entrepreneurial Universities (CEPU) projects. He was accompanied by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (ARSA), Prof. Peninah Aloo-Obudho. Karatina University DEpUK members were also part of the entourage.

In his introductory remarks, the Vice chancellor briefly introduced Karatina University to the participants of the conference, where he mentioned its strategic location; proximity to Mount Kenya, year of establishment, courses offered and the infrastructure development currently ongoing, e.g, the 3,000-capacity modern library. In addition, the University prides itself of being a green University and through the DEpUK project, the university is slowly adopting the entrepreneurial university culture which has already been captured in the KarU tag: “The green entrepreneurial university.”

Prof. Mucai Muchiri, Vice Chancellor Karatina University Addressing participants during the International Conference on Entrepreneurial Universities in Africa at Mount Kenya University, Mwai Kibaki Convention Centre

The Vice Chancellor highlighted the milestones of the project since inception of the DEpUK project in the year 2018, which are through:

  1. Development of a strategic plan for elevating Karatina University into an entrepreneurial university;
  2. A series of trainings for DEpUK project champions, University staff and students, both in Kenya and at Saarland University for University Management and Entrepreneurship coordinators and champions. This has led to an inculcation of an entrepreneurial culture;
  3. Development of a draft incubation hub policy to guide in the establishment and running of an incubation hub and a Fabrication Laboratory. The Karatina University innovation hub (KarU i-Hub) will serve as a launch pad for startups and run an innovation week which will enable participants to showcase their projects;
  4. Supporting entrepreneurial activities for both staff and students hence build their capacities and support entrepreneurial innovations by the necessary resources;
  5. Supporting students to attend innovative competitions such as start-up weekends; which enhances them to ideate and nurture their business ideas. As a result, they become job creators;
  6. Setting up University-Industry Linkage & International Programmes which supports the entrepreneurial university concept through continuous engagement of the industry players and other institutions that are vital to Karatina University success as an entrepreneurial university. He cited an example of how industry players are invited as guest lecturers.

    Group Photo of Karatina University Vice Chancellor with other Chief Guests

 

In conclusion the Vice Chancellor stated that entrepreneurial Universities have a strong bottom-up development initiative focus, empowering individuals at all levels of the organization to enjoy freedom for action. He thanked DAAD and Saarland University for the support they have provided for the success of the DEpUK project. It is through their entrepreneurial leadership and guidance that has made the three Kenyan universities in the DEpUK project start the journey to being entrepreneurial universities in this part of Africa

 

Prof. Mucai Muchiri Vice Chancellor Karatina University giving Introductory remarks during the Conference

Details

Date:
October 7, 2021
Time:
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Event Category:

Organizers

DEpUK
CEPU

Venue

Karatina University, Town Campus
92215814744 110073 Kenya + Google Map