KARATINA UNIVERSITY TO PARTNER WITH TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF BERLIN, GERMANY

Karatina University on Monday hosted a team of researchers from the Technical University of Berlin, Germany. Received by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic, Research and Students Affairs), Prof. Peninah Aloo-Obudho, the team is working on a comparative research study (Berlin, Kenya and Singapore) on “Knowledge and Goods II:  Communicative Action of Consumers and Intermediaries”. The study focuses on how consumers interact with intermediaries when buying fresh produce and what effects this has on people’s everyday lives, purchase choices, economic development, urban and rural renewal, space use as well as on Global Food Value Chains.

In liaison with the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Extension, the two institutions agreed to have a Framework of Collaboration (FoC) in areas such as:

• Staff and student exchanges
• Short-term PhD student visits/ attachments for advanced Laboratory and Library work
• Data analysis in German universities
• Establishment of joint multidisciplinary research teams to facilitate application for research grants
• Curriculum development
• Lectureships and webinars
• Joint PhD students’ supervision
• Publications and conference hosting

The visiting scholars were:

• Dr. Nina Baur – Economic Sociology, Sociology of Food and Social Science Methodology. She is also the Co-Director, Global Centre for Urban Sustainability which works with 47 Countries in 10 projects mainly in the Global South on Urban Renewal, Livelihoods, Green Spaces and Sustainability of Settlements, Cities and Urban areas.
• Linda Hering – Sociology
• Alexander Kohrs – Geography and Anthropology
• Patrick Budent-Spouse to Prof. Dr. Nina Baur

In attendance from the University were Prof. Michael Lokuruka (Director, Research, Innovation and Extension) and Mr. John Kiige from the School of Agriculture and Biotechnology.