University sets target of training job creators

While Kenyan graduates have, for years, focused on being employed by choice companies, a new approach is emerging on the scene that is likely to challenge the status quo in an apparent search for a niche.

Inoorero University, previously the Kenya School of Professional Studies, is working on building a culture of creating jobs.

Inoorero wants to make every graduate a ‘creator of jobs’ by equipping them as ready-to-go entrepreneurs, irrespective of subject.

“All things we do must promote enterprise,” says Prof Henry Thairu, the vice chancellor of the university. “We believe all our students should come out of here to create jobs, not just to seek employment.”

The emphasis on job creation comes as unemployment levels in the country approach 40 per cent of the working population.

With a student population of 1,600 and three main faculties — ICT, law and business — IU has identified a different path in equipping graduates.

“By the time students graduate, they know how to write a business proposal, business plan, how to register a company, where to source for capital and even how to talk to a bank manager,” says Prof Thairu.

Inoorero means ‘a sharpening place’ in Kikuyu.

So, while this community used inoorero to sharpen knives and blades, the university is shaping minds and skills.

With innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, the VC says, the institution is building a model that should resonate across Africa.

He says there is an urgent need for graduates — who traditionally are thinkers for the society — to change mind-set. “All things we do must promote enterprise.”

The number of enterprises generated by its graduates to compete favourably in the economy is the university objective.

“It is only through innovation mixed with entrepreneurship that we will transform our economy to a knowledge-based economy. We have all the resources we need in Kenya,” he says.

Similar programmes have been implemented elsewhere.

Google was started by students of Stanford University.

Yahoo, IBM, Facebook and other global information technology giants were also founded on research and innovation environment provided by universities.

IU’s approach to practical education is being noticed.

Late last year the institution won an international ICT innovation award for ‘innovation in education’ – a competition run by Hewlett Packard (HP).

The other winner from Kenya was Strathmore University while only five institutions were recognised from Africa.

“The aim was to enhance delivery of education material and improve the general classroom experience,” says Philip Mbugua, the chair of the ICT department at Inoorero.

Winners were awarded 20 HP notebooks and $10,000 in grants.

The project leader will also be travelling to the HP headquarters for an innovation forum.

There have been concerns that universities were losing their edge by churning out graduates whose grasp of practicals was wanting, and were reluctant to start own businesses.

Even industrial attachments have borne poor fruits and critics have urged industries to form partnerships with the trainers to create a strong synergy.

Inoorero runs a ‘Vice Chancellor’s Innovation Forum’, where students and academic staff share a platform with entrepreneurs and captains of industry.

The monthly forum started in January this year gives students opportunity to interact with and learn from the business world.

“We invited an entrepreneur for one of the forums and after seeing what we were doing, he gave Sh1 million towards the entrepreneurship programme,” says the VC.

The money has been used to set up 20 student-run companies, each having five students.

With the help of advisers, the students are trading stocks at the Nairobi Stock Exchange, before they venture into other businesses.

Chase Bank added another Sh1 million in support of the programme, says Prof Thairu.

Success story so far is two students who are running successful businesses as they study.

One of them has a chicken rearing business, with over 2,000 chickens while the other is teaching groups on rabbit breeding.

Incubation centres

“We have given her one of our rooms in the university where she can train her clients,” says the VC.

The university is building a campus on a 50-acre plot, which will reflect its enterprise philosophy.

Lecture theatres will have business incubation centres where students can operate their start-ups while still in school.

At the incubation centres, they will have office equipment and access to free business and financial advice.

Reports show that investors who make use of incubators have higher chances of starting ventures that withstand the storm that has been sweeping new operations.

What is the cost students bear to benefit from the advice and training? A two-year ICT degree costs Sh67,000, which the institution says is at par with other trainers.

Inoorero has initiated two funds to promote student enterprise.

The innovation fund, financed by the university aims to reward students who demonstrate innovation power through a competitive process.

The venture capital fund aims to connect good ideas to venture capitalists, with investors either seeking a stake in the ventures or a fair interest return on their investment.

Inoorero University began as the Kenya School of Professional Studies in 1983.

Prof Thairu says every graduate should ask: “How can I create a job?”

AFRICAN LAUGHTER