The Current Director of the Japan Society for the promotion of Science, Nairobi Research Station, Kenya, Dr. Yumi Yamane, visited Mount Kenya University of Wednesday, 31st January 2024 to explore possibilities of more collaborative engagements with Mount Kenya University. Dr. Yumi Yamane who has lived in Kenya for over ten years, was received at the University by Dr. Peter Kirira, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor; Administration, Planning and Institutional Advancement (DVC APIA)who is a Japan Trained scholar where he did his Doctorate before he joined KEMRI and later Mount Kenya University.
Dr. Yumi was accompanied by Prof. Xiaojie Tian, who is currently working at the Institute of Health and Sport Sciences in the University of Tsukuba. Prof Tian has been on a post-doctoral study among the Maasai community in Kenya, and her academic areas of interest are on early childhood education, sports and Sustainable Development Goals.
During their visit to Mount Kenya University, a number of areas of current and future collaborations were discussed. These included a disclosure by Dr. Kirira (DVC APIA) on the support given by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) when Mount Kenya University was applying for the JICA Sponsored Centre for Malaria Elimination which was officially opened by the Ambassador of Japan in Kenya on 27.07.2023.
Prof. Tian and Dr. Yumi also expressed their desire to join Mount Kenya University in future academic engagements where a few forthcoming and other ongoing activities were also explained.
Founded in 1932 with an endowment of Emperor Showa, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), or Gakushin for short, is Japan’s sole independent funding agency, established by way of a national law for the purpose of contributing to the advancement of science in all fields of the natural, social sciences and the humanities. According to Dr. Yumi, JSPS name somehow gives a wrong message that the organization only supports Pure and Applied Sciences and Technology. She confirmed that media, creative arts, humanities, languages and all other academic disciplines at universities are viable areas of collaboration which could be brought on board in the MKU-JSPS strengthened partnership. Dr Yumi is expected to visit MKU again in March 2024.
