STUDENT LEADERS’ EXCHANGE PROGRAM REPORT - KENYA

Leadership across boarders, in Kenya, was the National University of Science and Technology, Student Representative Council President, Tapfuma Muganiwa, Vice President, Nothando Karen Mafa and Minister of Information and Publicity, Stacey Majuru, representing not only the institution, but other tertiary institutions in Zimbabwe and the country at large in a Student Leaders Exchange Program between Zimbabwe and Kenya.

We commenced on a Wednesday morning the 5th of October with departure from the Joshua Nkomo Airport in Bulawayo, a 50 minute flight into Harare. The team then connected from the Robert Mugabe International Airport to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport with a safe arrival at the destination on the morning of Thursday the 6th of October.

We were picked on a 2 hour-long drive by a female taxi driver (an extremely rare case in Zimbabwe but a norm in Kenya) along the beautiful roads of Kenya, took the team from the country’s capital, Nairobi, to their home away from home for the duration of the trip, Naivasha, a city in the Nakuru County (province) while allowing them a chance to appreciate the captivating scenery along the route and encounter a local man, whose trade was the sell of traditional artifacts, some of which are shown below

The team was warmly welcomed at the Symphony Hotel, which is a few minutes away from Naivasha town and after allowing the rest of the day for rest from the journey and a moment to tour the surroundings of the hotel, it was boots on the ground on Friday morning, working towards the agenda of the trip.

As part of the agenda of the exchange program, Tapfuma and his team were shown around the Mount Kenya University (MKU), taken through various departments including the amazing, state of the art radio production and broadcasting studios designed for Journalism and Media Studies students. Interestingly, students at MKU are correspondents for local (provincial) television news.

We were also introduced to the dean of students, several lecturers and department heads and got an opportunity to learn of the university’s history, academic and extracurricular activities. Mount Kenya university aims at empowering its students and has employed several students in different departments including the university canteen. Students under the Food Science Department at MKU bake bread that’s sold to the public at a cheaper price. Another of its goals is to ensure quality education is available to every student leaving high school, regardless of whether they attained the best grades or not and as such, students with lower grades at the end of high school who would normally be turned away by universities, are welcomed by MKU and allowed an opportunity to study and map their way up from certificate level to degree level in their desired programs and furthermore, are lectured by expert lecturers holding PhD and Doctorate degrees.

MKU has several computer labs furnished with desktop computers reserved for research by students and a library inclusive of carrels which are small cubicles within the library where students can enter, close the door and do their studying from an enclosed space free from human interference.

The university also has, as part of its beautiful infrastructure, a rooftop above the 7th floor of the main building, complete with tables, chairs and shading tents where students are allowed to visit and refresh, study, eat, etc. On the rooftop, is a building where various plants, insects and animals such as mice and rabbits are kept for experimental use by the Veterinary Science department.

The insightful day continued as the team headed for Egerton University of Agriculture and Technology, another one of Kenya’s most established universities with one of the largest, green campuses. Intercepted by the dean of students, Tapfuma and his team met some of the Egerton student leaders and administrators and discussed matters of student welfare, innovation and university collaborations over lunch in the university’s common room. Amongst the topics for discussion, was the matter of the education systems in Zimbabwe and Kenya where the team was educated about the new education system being introduced in Kenya, that is,Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC). CBC is designed to enhance the significance of developing skills and knowledge and also applying those to real life situations, with a sense of love for one’s country and heritage. In the Zimbabwean context, this has been ushered in by Education 5.0.

Interactions continued as they toured the university and learnt more about its programs and structure. Egerton being a university that concentrates on programs agriculture related is equipped with greenhouses where students carry out the practical part of their courses as well as buildings that house cattle reared for programs to do with animal husbandry. Students at the university are also manufacturing yoghurt at the school that allows for income generation and industry experience for related programs. The image below shows a Dairy Plant at Egerton University.

The team got exposed to more of Kenya’s innovations including the popular sugar cane juice production where sugar canes are split into two and put through a sugar cane crusher and once the juice is processed, different additives are incorporated such as ginger, for a richer and more nutritious finished product. The sugar cane juice is being produced not only in supermarkets but at street corners as well.

MKenya has been known to be the home of the famous Masai tribe.. Also, these people are famous for being crafty with their hands and producing unique products including the Masai sandals. It couldn’t been a complete experience in Kenya without encountering the Masai and their products and the team managed to see them and their famous Masai sandals.

The team came across more art and creativity in a local store in Naivasha with the store owner being the master behind the artwork displayed for sale.

The morning of Tuesday the 11th of October, the NUST student leaders bed farewell to Kenya and left for Zimbabwe, where they arrived later that evening.

Student leaders in Kenya are keen to visit Zimbabwe on a similar program starting with National University of Science and Technology. The administrations are willing to partner with us for the benefit of our different institutions in different academic programs. From the trip, our eyes were opened and the buzz on the street should be innovation, innovation and innovation for industrialization.

Sincerely

NUST SRC PRESIDENT

TAPFUMA MUGANIWA