KENYATTA UNIVERSITY

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KENYATTA UNIVERSITY 

• ENGINEERING EDUCATION
• Challenges and Opportunities at Kenyatta
  University
•  
• A Paper Presented
•  
• At
•  
• The 20th IEK International Conference
•  
• Held at
•  
• The Tom Mboya Labour College, Kisumu
•  
• by
•  
• Eng. Martin M. Nzomo, FIEK.Ag. Dean and Senior
  Lecturer of Electrical and Electronic
  Engineering, School of Engineering and
  Technology.

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Welcome to a Kenyatta University Presentation
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KU School of Engineering and Technology -At a
glance

• The Kenyatta University School of Engineering and
  Technology (KUSET) is housed in the New
  Engineering Building Complex in Nyayo Zone area.
• It has a student population of 2500 (most are ICT
  students), 49 teaching and 47 non- teaching
  staff.

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Vision and Mission Statements of KUSET

• Vision of KUSET

• Mission of KUSET

• The Vision of the School of Engineering and
  Technology at Kenyatta University is to be a
  dynamic, innovative, inclusive and competitive
  engineering school in teaching, learning,
  research and community service."

• The Mission of the School of Engineering and
  Technology at Kenyatta University is to provide
  quality teaching and training of engineers, to
  promote scholarship, service, innovation,
  creativity and impart sound moral virtues for
  responsible individuals and community
  development.

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The Core Values of the School

•  
• The School of Engineering and Technology is
  guided by the following core values.
• Integrity
• Hardwork
• Discipline
• Perserverance
• Tolerance

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Background

• KUSET is a fairly young School established during
  the year 2007.
• It was created through the restructuring of
  departments which were under School of Pure and
  Applied Science.
• These were-
• The then Department of Engineering and
  Technology, and
• Department of Information and Communication
  Technology (ICT).

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Engineering Degrees at KU

• Kenyatta Universitys School of Engineering and
  Technology houses five (5) teaching departments
  namely-
• Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering.
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
• Civil Engineering.
• Energy Engineering.
• Computing and Information Technology (CIT).

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Current Engineering Degrees Programmes at KU

• Engineering programs offered include
• Bachelor of Science degrees in-
• Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering,
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering,
• Civil Engineering,
• Energy Engineering,
• Computer science, and
• Information Technology.
• Post graduate degrees in Renewable Energy
• Post graduate degrees in water engineering and
  manufacturing engineering are under way.

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Newly developed Engineering Programmes

• The School hosted two (2) Stakeholders
  curriculum development Workshops to discuss the
  following revised/new curricula-
• December 2011-
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
• Civil Engineering.
• Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing
  Engineering.
• Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering.
• January 2013-
• Biomedical Engineering.
• Petroleum Engineering.
• Next forum scheduled for May/June 2013 to
  consider-
• Chemical Engineering (new programme).
• Energy Engineering (revised programme).

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Main challenges

• Inadequate physical infrastructure and equipment,
  namely-
• Labs
• Workshops
• Inadequate staffing levels
• The recent upgrade of various colleges to
  universities has led to scarcity of engineering
  teaching staff.
• There are few qualified people with MSc PhD
  engineering qualifications.
• Lack of adequate local staff qualified in new
  areas e.g. Petroleum Engineering, Biomedical
  Engineering Energy Engineering.

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Infrastructure for Engineering Training at KU
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Current Facilities at KU- The Engineering
Building Complex
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Current Facilities at KU- The Engineering
Workshop
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Current Facilities at KU- Modern Engineering
Workshop Equipment
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Current Facilities at KU- Modern Engineering
Teaching Equipment
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Current Facilities at KU- Modern Engineering
Training Equipment
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Current Facilities at KU- Students at Work in
the Lab.
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Current Facilities at KU- Students Using Modern
Training Equipment
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Additional Infrastructure Facilities

• Plans are underway to increase and equip the
  School with additional physical infrastructure.
• This includes the next phase of lecture halls,
  and staff offices, well equipped workshops,
  Seminar Rooms and Board Rooms.
• To further improve the quality of programmes, KU
  is actively involved in national and
  international collaborative programs.

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Collaboration with Industry and other
universities in Engineering Existing
Opportunities
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Collaboration With Industry/Universities

• KU has a policy on collaboration whose goal is to
  forge close and strong collaborative links with
  industry.
• The School has been at the forefront in seeking
  and establishing a mutually dependable
  stakeholder base with key industry players.
• Opportunities for KU
• Attachment for staff and students to gain skills
  and experience in industries and institutions.
• identifying experts from industries and
  institutions to talk to Students on career
  choices.
• Staff and student exchange programme in various
  engineering disciplines.
• Conducting joint research.
• Capacity building and exposure of both staff and
  students.

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Collaboration With Industry/Universities

• Opportunities for Industries-
• Labour from students on attachment.
• Adjunct positions- Experts from industry come to
  the KU for a certain duration (e.g. 2 weeks 1
  month) to undertake teaching or research.
• Industry driven research
• Capacity building for industries (highly trained
  staff to Masters and PhD) through local and
  visiting faculty.
• Industries to sponsor research programmes.

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Collaboration With Industry

• Current collaborations exist with-
• Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited
  (KETRACO),
• Kengen,
• Power Technics Limited,
• Centurion Systems Limited,
• Optiware Communications Limited.
• Ministry of Energy

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Collaboration With other Universities

• Current collaborative arrangements are with-
• University of Johannesburg.
• University of Cape Town.
• Tshwane University of Technology.
• University of Petroleum and Energy Studies-
  India.
• China University of Petroleum - Beijing
• Future collaborative arrangements are being
  pursued with universities in Europe, United
  States of America, India, China, and South East
  Asian Countries, among others.

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Capacity Building

• KUs Vision and Mission is focused on offering
  quality teaching supported by research.
• The stated policy of the School of Engineering
  and Technology is to facilitate the capacity
  development of its faculty members.
• The School is implementing a programme to secure
  scholarships for all its lecturers to obtain
  doctoral and post-doctoral level qualification in
  their areas of specialization.
• The goal is to eventually attain and maintain the
  global optimum standard mix at all levels.

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Conclusion

• Engineering is a profession whose practice
  regulated by law.
• KUSET, underscores that sound engineering
  education requires the cooperation and
  collaboration of all actors.
• This includes EBK (the regulating authority), the
  university concerned as well as the teaching
  professionals involved in the process.
• The KU School of Engineering and Technology, with
  the support of KU Management, is committed to
  ensuring that it plays its part well in the
  education of the engineer.

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Conclusion

• All challenges along the way are taken as
  opportunities for learning.
• Ultimately, the Kenyatta University Engineering
  graduate will be an individual who-
• would be useful to industry immediately, both in
  the country and abroad, or
• an entrepreneur creating own job and for others.
• I THANK YOU