MKU Don attend Going Global 2019 conference in Berlin
Mount Kenya University participated in the Going Global 2019 conference that was held in Berlin on 13th May, 2019.
Dr. Dorothea Rüland, DAAD, Secretary General and Dr. Henry K. Yatich, Director Technical Support, Content Development and Design, Mount Kenya University at the Going Global 2019 organized by British Council, at the Berling Conference Centre, Berlin
Varsity was represented by Dr. Henry K. Yatich, Director Technical Support, Content Development and Design. Conference sub theme was “How do we govern education for an uncertain future? Markets vs Systems”
At the conference, Dr. Yatich made a presentation as one of the invited speakers from Mount Kenya University with regard to the University strategies employed to address unemployment in Kenya-All these can be found in under the link provided at the end of the report.
Education planning is hugely challenging – and particularly so in relation to the labour market where accelerating industrial, demographic and technological change is making it ever more difficult for education institutions to meet the current and future needs of employers. For policy makers these challenges are equally acute and homegrown solutions are imperative.
The session explored whether systemic or marketized systems are best placed to meet these needs and how governance and the architecture of funding and legislation can best deliver good outcomes.
His presentation focused on the systemic and policy changes currently witnessed in the country. In addition, Dr. Yatich also made presentation on strategies that Mount Kenya University has implemented to alleviate the global challenge of unemployment.
Lessons:
- We need homegrown solutions (examples are given regarding to the runaway challenge of unemployment without, writing off other forms and nature of support).
- University managers, through participatory approach should match its resource base with shared novel models of education such as the practical- oriented model-which is currently being started in the country and aim for home-grown solutions and interventions:
- MKU has invested a seed capital of annual 100,000 USD for the Vice-Chancellor’s Research and Innovation grant which has led to the best global innovation award winner in April 2019 in
- Mount Kenya University Mentorship, Innovation and Enterprise Fund (MIEF) received a generous initial 5-year funding from the University management through injection of USD 400, 000 in 2015 into the MIEF. From the fund, a total of 10 young apprentices (innovators/entrepreneurs) will benefit with initial seed grant of 8,000USD per year for every innovative business idea they competitively
- Chairman’s Innovation and Enterprise Award (CIEA) recognizes outstanding innovators as an incentive and a gesture of appreciation for their altruism during every graduation
- MKU through GEA has entered into an exchange programme with the University of the West of Scotland for Centre for African research on enterprise and economic development (CAREED). This will see students from both universities benefit from an exchange programme in the areas of entrepreneur and economic
- The Students Training for Entrepreneurial Promotion (STEP) has been introduced at MKU. STEP and targets students from any degree program at Thika Campus to start with as a pilot project before it is introduced at other
- Curriculum review and other collaborative engagements with industry stakeholders is also underway with the first breakfast meeting with industry held on 21st February 2019 and SWISSCONTACT in April 2019 to review Bachelor of Commerce programme.
Reference:
- Dr. Yatich presentation can be accessed at; https://www.slideshare.net/British_Council/dr-henry-kiptum-yatich
- Dr. Yatich video interview can be accessed at: https://www.britishcouncil.org/going- global/programme/sessions/how-do-we-govern-education-uncertain- future-markets-vs-systems
Or
https://twitter.com/HEGoingGlobal/status/1129373002896990208
- Dr. Yatich audio podcast (all session) can be accessed at: https://open.http.mp.streamamg.com/index.php/extwidget/preview/p artner_id/3000404/uiconf_id/30011596/entry_id/0_lh9jnqmu/embed/a uto?flashvars[streamerType]=hds
