2nd Vice-Chancellor of Mount Kenya University
hika, Kenya – January 29th, 2021
Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi has been officially installed as the 2nd Vice-Chancellor of Mount Kenya University. Prof Jaganyi takes the leadership baton as the 2nd Vice-Chancellor of MKU from Prof Stanley Waudo, who has diligently served the University since its inception in 2008. Mount Kenya University was awarded a Letter of Interim Authority in 2008, received award of Charter in 2011 and has undergone sustainable growth post-charter.
Chief Guest: Mr. Zack Kinuthia, Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Education, appreciated the premier institution that MKU has grown to be within a period of 10 years since it was granted the Charter and encouraged Mount Kenya University to continue with the strategic support to Technical and Vocational Training Institutions. He also appreciated the access to affordable and quality higher education availed by Mount Kenya University both as a University as well as an affiliate of upcoming TVET institutions.
He emphasized on the key role of Universities as Strategic Partners in Support of Competency- Based Education & Training (CBET). To complement Government efforts in capacity building in the (TVET) sector at diploma and degree levels, universities, private institutions and even NGOs have now taken up CBET training and are promoting it. This will go a long way in ensuring that the country develops appropriate skills to take it to the next level and ensure timely achieving of the Kenya Vision 2030. He requested MKU to identify strategic areas of partnerships such as in supporting business incubation and business acceleration centers for job and wealth creation for empowering youth in Kenya.
Prof. Simon N. Gicharu, CBS, Founder of Mount Kenya University (MKU) and Chairman, Board of Directors, said Prof. Waudo has navigated MKU with professionalism and wisdom and under his academic leadership the university was awarded a Charter, won several global meritorious awards, and sprinted to position one in a number of international research grants awarded to private universities in Kenya. Under Prof. Waudo’s stewardship, the university has graduated over 100,000 students. It has also achieved internationalization and established several allied institutions notably Equip Africa Institute.
The Chairman University Council, Prof David Serem congratulated Prof. Jaganyi for the achievement of becoming the second Vice-Chancellor of MKU and appreciated the First Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Waudo who has diligently served the University for Thirteen (13) years. He has successfully steered the institution into a fully-fledged Chartered University which has adopted international best practices.
The University Council has also approved the 2020-2029 University Strategic Plan which has been officially launched today. Prof Jaganyi has a task to achieve the university vision 2029 guided by the strategic plan.
Serem congratulated the Board of Directors for the effective mobilization of resources which have helped greatly in enhancing competitive academic programmes and hiring of competent teaching staff. We commend you also for ensuring a smooth transition of leadership from Prof. Waudo to Prof. Jaganyi.
Prof. Stanley W. Waudo, Founding Vice-Chancellor, gave his appreciation for the unequivocal commitment of the Board of Directors to the assembly and consolidation of academic resources that make the MKU work environment conducive. He also felt grateful to the University Council for the unwavering support, cooperation and promotion of corporate governance practices that make it possible to implement the University mission effectively. Prof Waudo, “I note with appreciation that MKU is offering quality education and training that impart to students’ knowledge, skills, attitude and confidence needed for pursuing rewarding careers. I also note with pride that the University promotes enhancement of students’ talents required for future prosperity. As regards research, service provision and partnerships, I further note that the University has entrenched a strong research culture in its operations, provides excellent service, and works closely with its national and international partners to pool and share academic resources for common good”
Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi, Second Vice-Chancellor, said Mount Kenya University is a true reflection of the African story of an African University; a story of humble beginning, challenges, uncertainties and stumbling blocks; but also a journey that has led to the emergence of the next frontier in higher education locally and globally. The university has promoted the discovery of new knowledge and has shaped the education of the students so that when they leave university they are not just technically proficient in their fields, but are also able to stand back and apply their learning beyond those specific fields.
In order to position MKU as a global university in learning & teaching, research & innovation, there is need to prepare our graduates to be very adaptable.
MKU will continue to foster and give space for fundamental research as the foundation of innovation to improve lives and opportunities in society. The skills needed for the future are not just about science and technology. Human skills like creativity, leadership, responsible citizens and empathy will be in demand. As such Co-curricular will also form part of the mix including an expended internship programmes. i.e. expending the partnership with the corporate sector
Prof John Struthers, Chancellor, Mount Kenya University recognized that MKU’s growth has also been catalyzed by strategic relationships with key agencies in the public and private sectors such as the National Council of Science, Technology, and Innovation (NACOSTI), the National Research Fund (NRF), the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and many other players that have fostered growth and development of higher education sub-sector within the national economic ecosystem.
Brief profile- Prof Deogratius Jaganyi, PhD, MSc, DIC, MRSC
ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Prof Jaganyi, a distinguished scholar and leader, is a full Professor with a PhD in Physical Chemistry obtained in 1992 from Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London, England.
A National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa rated researcher, Prof Jaganyi has:
- Won over $1 million in grants for his competitive research proposals.
- Supervised 42 Honours, 31 MSc, 12 PhD students and 4 postdoctoral scholars.
- In the last 25 years been external and internal examiner of postgraduate students at PhD and Masters levels.
- Published 105 articles, 93 of them in peer-reviewed international journals, with more under review. He has written over 90 conference abstracts.
- Presented his research findings at local and international conferences. His research work has also appeared in some high impact journals, such as Nature.
- Developed and reviewed a number of research partnership agreements.
WORK EXPERIENCE
- More than 10 years’ senior leadership and management experience. He rose from Deputy Dean in the Faculty of Science and Agriculture to Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science (DVC- HoC CAES)) at the University of Kwa Zulu-Natal (UKZN). His responsibilities included grant mobilisation and management, research project management, data and research dissemination, and diverse training, just to mention a few.
- Served on the Boards of the UKZN affiliated institutes: The Sugar Milling Research Institute (SMRI); the Institute for Commercial Forestry Research (ICFR); and Msunduzi Innovation and Development Institute (MIDI).
- Member of various committees at college, university and national levels, on matters relating to research, teaching and learning and general university issues while at UKZN.
- A Trustee of the Msunduzi Innovation and Development Institute (MIDI) and has chaired the internationally funded Boards of African Centre for Crop Improvement (ACCI) and Centre for Water Resources Research (CWRR).
- Recipient of various awards, including the 2010 University of KwaZulu-Natal, Distinguished Teachers Award.
