Both institutions will benefit from joint researches in areas of common interest, and exchange programmes. Photo/ FILE
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology is collaborating with China’s Xinjiang University of Finance and Economics to boast research and enhance their capacity to advance knowledge.
The institutions will benefit from joint research in areas of common interest, and exchange programmes, among other things.
“We started the partnership late last year. We travelled to Urumqi, China, and held discussions with XUFE officials where we agreed on areas of co-operation,” said Dr Kabare Karanja, a lecturer at the institution.
JKUAT was started in 1981 as a middle level college by the government with the generous assistance from the Japanese Government.
He said the two sides explored various areas of collaboration.
They include student exchange between JKUAT and XUFE, faculty exchange, participation in conferences and forums for dissemination of knowledge, and research out put.
“We also agreed to enhance capacity building in English and Chinese languages,” he said.
The two institutions have left an open window for other areas of collaboration that they may consider beneficial, he added.
XUFE is one of the leading institutions of higher learning in China’s Xinjiang Province.
The university focuses on six major disciplines which are economics, administration, the arts, law, science and engineering.
According to Dr Karanja, both institutions are set to benefit immensely.
Overcome challenges
He said XUFE’s concepts of popularisation, personalisation, and digitalisation were other key areas that JKUAT would benefit from.
“Through popularisation, the university intends to be visible as a mentor in the region. It is also adapting to the use of technology to overcome challenges of time and space. We cannot overlook these initiatives, which provide key learning areas,” he said.
Juma Wagoki, a lecturer at JKUAT, said they learned that a strong bond existed between the government and learning institutions in China.
“It came to our notice that there exists a very close relationship between the central government, the local government, and learning institutions that include universities,” he said.
The bond is almost non-existent in Kenya with many lecturers and students being regarded as enemies of the state.
Mr Wagoki said that both the government and higher learning institutions are driven by a common agenda with each of them dutifully playing their respective roles.
“It is important to appreciate this reality if the motivation and spirit for the part of XUFE is understood so as to map out a strategy for our institution,” he said.
He said that China was an emerging country with influence in East Europe, the Mediterranean, the Arab region, Eastern Asia and Africa.
Partnerships
“It is upon us as Kenya, particularly those of us who are in higher learning institutions, to explore these relationships for our benefit,” he said.
“The scope is within the capacity and interests of JKUAT. This is a unique chance for our institution and its staff to have exposure and collaborate with the outside world,” they said.
Besides cooperating with JKUAT, XUFE has partnerships with other universities across the world.
These include those in the United States, Europe, Central Asia, Japan and Australia. In total, the partnership involves 28 universities.
Most of the collaborations involves staff and student exchange programmes, joint research, and publications. XUFE’s collaboration with JKUAT is the first in Africa.
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