Enhancing Academia-Industry Linkages At School Of Engineering, Moi University

Introduction

The main purpose of this activity was engage our students with real industrial issues in their research projects. To achieve this, it was important for the industry players to brief students and staff on current industrial challenges or issues.

Approach Adopted in Organising Industry-University Linkage Meeting

Following my training at UAS, i embarked on enhancing linkages between industry and university. To achieve this, the following approached was used:

1. A team of academic staff was formed mainly from three thematic areas: energy, engineering and sciences. The selection of these thematic areas was informed by the needs of the funding organisatopn (World Bank).
2. Relevant industrial partners were selected based on the three thematic areas and invited for a meeting
3. A meeting was organised between the selected industrial partners, academic staff team and postgraduate students. The main aim of the meeting was to provide an avenue for industrial partners to outlines their challenges which students can work on as part of their research project
4. From the meeting, the following was the feedback:
   1. Industries applauded the initiative by university to create linkage with them
   2. Industry was ready to offer more internships and industrial attachments positions for staff and students – though proper planning was needed
   3. Industry was ready to work with university to address some of its challenges through joint research project
   4. University was requested to work with both Small & large scales companies within the region
   5. It was noted that there is a need to retool industrial staff  on technical skills

Challenges Experienced During Linkage Meeting

During the planning and organisation of industrial linkages meeting, a number of challenges were experienced. The main one included:

• Lack of interest by large scale companies
• Difficulties in scheduling meeting with industrial partners owing to their busy schedules
• Small & medium scales companies shying from working with universities – inferiority complex

How were Challenges addressed?

The following approaches were adopted in addressing the challenges encountered:

• Selection of industrial partners was based on Small and Medium scale companies who are more open to new ideas and innovation
• Meeting were organised outside the working hours; evening and weekends
• Frequent meetings were arranged with Small & Medium scales companies for creating rapport and ease of working with the university
• Research output from the university was showcased industries for them to appreciate benefit of working with the university

Industrial Issues Shared During the Linkage Meeting

During the meeting the following industrial challenges were shared for research consideration by the universities;

1. High cost of production and built-in systemic inefficiencies
2. Lack of market readiness for informal sector products
3. Poor visibility of the Kenya’s design capabilities
4. Limited information on modern and efficient machinery
5. High overhead costs

Conclusion

After the linkage meeting, there was consensus among the participants that

‚the future belong to the teams‘