community. The ACE project emphasizes the need for effective linkages between universities and communities
– the ACEs must serve the community within which they are situated. I am encouraged that the Vice Chancellor’s
remarks on the efforts by Moi university to partner with the community, including schools in areas such as biogas
and the textiles industry.
The Vice Chancellor has already mentioned that Moi University is part of the network of Universities participating in the Africa Centers of Excellence (ACE II) regional project and has outlined what Moi University
has achieved under the ACE II project. therefore, I will not be going into details of the ACE II regional project.
Additional information on the overall ACE II project is available online.
Experiences from East Asia and Latin America show how profound, long-term and continued investment and
reform efforts into training in high-quality skills and scientists for very concrete industries can lead to complete
transformation of the targeted economic sectors and emergence of new competitive and higher value-added
production. I am aware that Moi university is engaged in interventions related to value addition including in the
textiles and biogas areas. Ideally, these are the kind of linkages that we need to demonstrate the relevance of
higher education and training to the marketplace as well as in contributing to productivity of the Country, and
job creation.
We cannot overemphasize the need to strengthen and consolidate the overall higher education eco-system.
I am glad we are joined by our Chief guest today. We have been having dialogue on the need to review and
align the overall governance of the higher education sub sector specifically in quality assurance, accreditation, student financing, research and innovation areas. Unless we have a solid higher education ecosystem,
it becomes very challenging to build a foundation for excellence in higher education training, as well as
collaborative research. We are optimistic moving forward, we will work more towards a cohesive higher
education sub-sector, including in the management of research and innovation funds. We need to strive for
excellence in higher education training and research. This vision will ensure University education is contributing to development of quality and relevant skills and cutting-edge research-and uptake of this research
to inform innovative solutions aimed at addressing development challenges not only in Kenya but also in the
region.
Once more, we are very happy that Moi University is hosting this conference. We cannot over emphasize
the essence of networking and knowledge sharing. We have continued to encourage the ACEs to network and
to pursue partnerships in the country, region and internationally, because this approach will enable the ACEs
to synthesize training and research output and uptake of the same either at the country level or in the region.
We have also been highlighting the importance of the ACEs working closely with relevant line ministries to
influence policies, spending and investments. These linkages will enable the training and research outputs, and
innovations from the Centers to inform and or contribute to core development agenda of the Country. Unless
we can create these linkages effectively, it becomes very challenging to justify ‘the value addition’ of investing
in the ACEs, and in the overall higher education subsector. Higher education may be considered an investment
for the betterment of the individual pursuing ‘it’, but higher education should contribute to a higher order or
higher-level development objective.
We acknowledge ongoing efforts by Moi University to promoting increased women participation in the
postgraduate programme, specifically in the STEM fields. This is commendable. The ACE Centre at Moi
University is supporting women through scholarships; improved conditions for accommodation; and mentorship.
Through these efforts, over the past three years, the Centre at Moi University has been increasing the number
of women being enrolled at postgraduate level, particularly at the PhD level. The university has proven with
deliberate efforts, it is possible to attract young females to pursue post graduate training in the STEM fields -by
creating a conducive environment and the right incentives for women. It is our hope that these women will be
supported to develop their careers as faculty and contribute to higher education sub-sector and the ACE at Moi
University.
The COVID-19 situation has created challenges, as well as opportunities. We will continue to work closely
with Moi University, as well as other ACEs, to ensure learning continuity for the students during COVID-19. I
do not think this situation will ‘go away’ soon. Kenya has in place relevant technologies and resources for the
Centers to implement online based support for the students. We really do not have any excuses as to why the
students at the Centre cannot be supported to for example present and ‘defend’ research proposal and thesis.
Probably data collection could be deferred for students needing to be in the field for data collection, but when
the COVID-19 situation allows, the students should be supported to get back on track. I am going to end here and
thank the Ministry of Education and Moi University for this conference. We look forward to the next sessions,
and to learn more about the specific themes for this conference in Science, Technology and Innovation. Thank
you very much.
Ms. Ruth Charo,
Senior Education Specialist, Education Global Practice, World Bank
xix
– the ACEs must serve the community within which they are situated. I am encouraged that the Vice Chancellor’s
remarks on the efforts by Moi university to partner with the community, including schools in areas such as biogas
and the textiles industry.
The Vice Chancellor has already mentioned that Moi University is part of the network of Universities participating in the Africa Centers of Excellence (ACE II) regional project and has outlined what Moi University
has achieved under the ACE II project. therefore, I will not be going into details of the ACE II regional project.
Additional information on the overall ACE II project is available online.
Experiences from East Asia and Latin America show how profound, long-term and continued investment and
reform efforts into training in high-quality skills and scientists for very concrete industries can lead to complete
transformation of the targeted economic sectors and emergence of new competitive and higher value-added
production. I am aware that Moi university is engaged in interventions related to value addition including in the
textiles and biogas areas. Ideally, these are the kind of linkages that we need to demonstrate the relevance of
higher education and training to the marketplace as well as in contributing to productivity of the Country, and
job creation.
We cannot overemphasize the need to strengthen and consolidate the overall higher education eco-system.
I am glad we are joined by our Chief guest today. We have been having dialogue on the need to review and
align the overall governance of the higher education sub sector specifically in quality assurance, accreditation, student financing, research and innovation areas. Unless we have a solid higher education ecosystem,
it becomes very challenging to build a foundation for excellence in higher education training, as well as
collaborative research. We are optimistic moving forward, we will work more towards a cohesive higher
education sub-sector, including in the management of research and innovation funds. We need to strive for
excellence in higher education training and research. This vision will ensure University education is contributing to development of quality and relevant skills and cutting-edge research-and uptake of this research
to inform innovative solutions aimed at addressing development challenges not only in Kenya but also in the
region.
Once more, we are very happy that Moi University is hosting this conference. We cannot over emphasize
the essence of networking and knowledge sharing. We have continued to encourage the ACEs to network and
to pursue partnerships in the country, region and internationally, because this approach will enable the ACEs
to synthesize training and research output and uptake of the same either at the country level or in the region.
We have also been highlighting the importance of the ACEs working closely with relevant line ministries to
influence policies, spending and investments. These linkages will enable the training and research outputs, and
innovations from the Centers to inform and or contribute to core development agenda of the Country. Unless
we can create these linkages effectively, it becomes very challenging to justify ‘the value addition’ of investing
in the ACEs, and in the overall higher education subsector. Higher education may be considered an investment
for the betterment of the individual pursuing ‘it’, but higher education should contribute to a higher order or
higher-level development objective.
We acknowledge ongoing efforts by Moi University to promoting increased women participation in the
postgraduate programme, specifically in the STEM fields. This is commendable. The ACE Centre at Moi
University is supporting women through scholarships; improved conditions for accommodation; and mentorship.
Through these efforts, over the past three years, the Centre at Moi University has been increasing the number
of women being enrolled at postgraduate level, particularly at the PhD level. The university has proven with
deliberate efforts, it is possible to attract young females to pursue post graduate training in the STEM fields -by
creating a conducive environment and the right incentives for women. It is our hope that these women will be
supported to develop their careers as faculty and contribute to higher education sub-sector and the ACE at Moi
University.
The COVID-19 situation has created challenges, as well as opportunities. We will continue to work closely
with Moi University, as well as other ACEs, to ensure learning continuity for the students during COVID-19. I
do not think this situation will ‘go away’ soon. Kenya has in place relevant technologies and resources for the
Centers to implement online based support for the students. We really do not have any excuses as to why the
students at the Centre cannot be supported to for example present and ‘defend’ research proposal and thesis.
Probably data collection could be deferred for students needing to be in the field for data collection, but when
the COVID-19 situation allows, the students should be supported to get back on track. I am going to end here and
thank the Ministry of Education and Moi University for this conference. We look forward to the next sessions,
and to learn more about the specific themes for this conference in Science, Technology and Innovation. Thank
you very much.
Ms. Ruth Charo,
Senior Education Specialist, Education Global Practice, World Bank
xix