Short Description

I have a PhD in Mechanical Engineering working in the area of  Thermodynamics and Fluids Engineering which concerns energy systems design, power generation, system optimization and pollution control. As such I am an expert thermodynamics, heat/mass Transfer, combustion/pollution control, Computational Fluids Dynamics (CFD) in which I teach both undergraduate and post graduate students.

Work: I am currently the acting Principal College of Engineering and Technology, JKUAT. I have served as Dean of School of Mechanical Manufacturing and Materials Engineering and also as Chairman of Department of Mechanical Engineering. I also a peer review of curriculums on behalf of the Commission of University Education (CUE). I have published over 30 articles in journal papers and conferences including 3 books. I am registered as a Professional Engineer under Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK). I am also a corporate Member of Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK). I have supervised 10 completed post graduate students and I am currently supervising more MSc and PhD students.

Selected funded projects include;

• Mobility to Enhance Training of Engineering Graduates in Africa (METEGA), INTRA_ACP-EU funded Program, Euros 2, 548, 800 (2013)
•  Manufacturing Research chair project by International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Euros 700,000 (2016).
• Development of materials for high speed marine vessels funded by JICA, Euros 6,000  (2016)
• Development of a gold crushing system for small scale miners in Western Kenya, Euros 6,000 (2016)
• EU, Visiting Professorship titled Modern Power Graduate on 21^st Century Graduate, Warsaw University of Technology, Euro 3,800 (2015).
• Integration of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering MSc and PhD into the Pan African University of Basic Science Technology and Innovation (PAUISTI), thematic partner is JICA (2017).

Motivation

Setting up of East African University of Applied sciences is an idea whose time is ripe as our country seeks to kick start the manufacturing sector. This is because presently there is a big gap between training at the University and desire skills by the employers. As such there has been several challenges with companies feeling that training of graduates in Kenya does not meet their expectations. Some of the challenges that have cited by the companies include the fact that;

• Graduates have difficulties integrating theory and practice. This has contributed to the statement by companies in Kenya that Universities produce half-baked students
• Graduates have poor soft skills including communication, leadership, time management among others
• There is poor linkage between University and industry hence Universities are not providing solutions to challenges encountered by Industry hence companies rely on foreign partners to address challenges they face such as market research
• Short periods of internships: Most companies have expressed a wish for students attached for more than 3 months

The above challenges have led to companies having to retrain graduates for a period of 6 to 24 months to enable them fit in the work culture and environment. It is due to the above reasons that when I learnt there was an initiative to set up a University of applied sciences I decided to get involved. Learning the concept of University of applied sciences will help me to;

• Create a practical oriented training culture that will impact on the employability of Kenyan graduates
• Link the Universities better with the industries through lessons learnt from the applied sciences concept in Germany.
• Create an enabling environment where employers are involved in training of graduates as well as see how to consolidate period of internship to enable students be involved more in the practice.

Relevant Insights

1. Library: This is involved not only in providing abundant resources (print and electronic) but also providing training that ensure life long learning
2. Internships: These are well organized especially and for 100 working days which is sufficient to integrate a student into working culture of a company. I liked the part where the students are trained for one week on what to expect in the industry and also gain soft skills necessary for success in the industry.
3. Conceptual seminars: Wonderful interactions between industry and university. This is one of a kind interaction as it helps the students get motivated as they solve industry challenges and also enables an interaction between University and Industry.
4. Practical research: These are evident through thesis and projects undertaken by students which is a win win strategy that is benefits students, professors and employers
5. Didactic training: This is novel component of University of Applied sciences that ensure Professors who have no teaching skills have necessary tools to enable them impact on the students. It is even instructive to note that there exists a joint training centre for this which demonstrates a willingness of applied sciences Universities to collaborate to solve a common challenge.
6. Industrial experience by Professors: The 5 years requirement for one to be a professor of University of Applied sciences is a major element that contribute to practical training of students as professors teach from experience.
7. Development of curriculums: I liked the blue ocean strategy that is used in development of new programs that avoids cannibalization of existing programs by ensuring synergy between stakeholders and professors of various departments within the University.
8. Company visits: These company visits demonstrate the good relationship between University of Applied sciences and Industry. In addition each of the visit we had an opportunity to interact with a former student of University of applied science who narrated the experiences and benefits they have gained from the model of training.
9. Role of University of Applied sciences: This became clear in which these Universities seek to understand a problem before identifying how to solve it.
10. Internationalization: There is a major effort by the Universities of Applied Sciences to infuse internationalization of students.
11. Blended learning: A lot of effort is being put to ensure online learning, delivery of lectures and individual learning at the University of Applied sciences. This is very appropriate for the students who mix working and training.
12. Use of Information Technology: I liked the blending of IT with appropriate softwares into not only training of students but also evaluation of lecturers.
13. Quality and Process automation: Quality is emphasized in the 2 companies we visited which makes them be competitive globally. In addition most of production is automated in some cases use of robots is evident. These makes the companies be able to perform for longer periods with efficiency and develop quality products.

Intentions

Through this model of University of Applied Sciences I foresee a chance to:

• Advice on curriculum improvement of existing curriculums in JKUAT to make them address the gaps that companies have been complaining about.
• To participate nationally on behalf of Commission for University Education (CUE) to advice other Universities in Kenya to infuse improved practical approach to training of engineering graduates.
• Students internships: This requires an overhaul of the program in our University since the way it is currently structured does not address the key needs of companies. There is need to consolidate it into a longer period and prepare the students more for the industry. Internships: I will involve the companies more in developing a one week course to prepare the graduates for the industry
• Staff Internships: I will discuss more of this with my colleagues to enable them adopt it in which they undergo periods of exposure to industry through internships.
• Conceptual seminars: We will gradually incorporate these in our curriculums
• Didactic workshops: We shall develop a program and a policy for the college in which didactic 2 day workshops will be held once a year or once in 2 years to infuse pedagogical skills to our teaching staff. Also in collaboration with other participating Universities in Kenya we will seek a way of developing a centralized centre of didactic training and lobby for government and donor agencies support to set up the centre

I will sensitize members of staff in my college and also brief our Vice Chancellor before the next workshop visit to Germany: I will create awareness session to the members of College Board consisting of Deans and Chairmen of departments on best practices of the University of Applied Sciences. This is expected to generate a discussion whose output will include a list of goals and how they will be achieved.