Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) is ranked as the best Engineering Institution in Kenya and is among the top engineering institutions in the Eastern region and Africa as a whole. The vision of the university is to be ‘a University of global excellence in Training, Research and Innovation for development’ and the mission is ‘To offer accessible quality training, research and innovation in order to produce leaders in the fields of Agriculture, Engineering, Technology, Enterprise Development, Built Environment, Health Sciences, Social Sciences and other Applied Sciences to suit the needs of a dynamic world’.
JKUAT was established as a middle level college in 1981 before later becoming a fully-fledged university in 1994. Currently the university has over 50 departments, schools, institutes and colleges and 2,171 members of staff of whom 711 are teaching faculty staff while the rest are support staff. The university offers a range of programs ranging from engineering, agriculture, applied sciences, health and humanities to about 30,000 students. The university has a steadily growing population of post graduate students which currently stands at 17% of the total group of students. The university is also home to Africa Institute of Capacity Development (AICAD) which is a regional center for capacity development sponsored by Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) and Eastern African governments. The university is also a member of International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE). The university was also identified after a competitive process, as the centre of excellence for Pan Africa University (PAU) programs.
This application is led by College of Engineering and Technology (CoETEC) which is leading centre for engineering training in Africa. The college has a range of programs at the post graduate level in collaboration with German Academic Exchange (DAAD). The college is also involved in Pan African University post graduate programs sponsored by the Africa Union. The main programs offered in the college are Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Master of Science in Mechatronics Engineering, Master of Science in Civil Engineering, Master of Science in Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Master of Science in Agriculture Engineering, Master of Science in Telecommunication Engineering and Master of Science in Geomatics and Geospatial Engineering, Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering, Doctor of Philosophy in Mechatronic Engineering, Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering. The college has also entered in collaboration with University of Mines and Technology, Ghana and Curtin University of Australia to offer post graduate programs in Mining and Petroleum Engineering. JKUAT had undertaken the following research activities related to the specialisation of advanced manufacturing
- Sensitization on Lasers in Manufacturing (2008/2009)
The African Laser Center hosted various courses at the African Institute for Capacity and Development (AICAD) in JKUAT in 2008 and 2009. The aim of the project was to increase awareness on the lasers and their applications in manufacturing. As a result of this, two (2) masters project in the area were successfully initiated and completed.
- Development of a laser-based tool for efficient and low-cost manufacture of solar panels:
A research group in the area of laser research spearheaded by Prof. B. W. Ikua and Dr. J. Keraita, on development of a laser-based tool for efficient and low-cost manufacture of solar panels was successfully completed. It was funded by the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) and hosted by Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT) in collaboration of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).
- Research chair on Technology and Manufacturing
The programme launched in 2017, focuses on technological innovations for quality and competitiveness in the manufacturing of coconut value added products. JKUAT is expected to design and develop tools and machines for production and commercialization of coconut.
JKUAT has a number of ongoing international projects funded by international bodies such as German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Africa Union funded Pan African University of Science, Technology and Innovation, among others. In particular, JKUAT has successfully benefited in 2 calls of EU funded Intra ACP mobility schemes, where more than 25 Kenyan students who went to other partner universities for post graduate training. JKUAT received 12 students from partner countries to study for MSc studies (in engineering and agriculture) as part of mobility as follows:
- 2011 Intra ACP call
- JKUAT was a partner university among other partners in Africa, receiving total funding of more than € 1,800,000
- JKUAT received 7 students who successfully completed their MSc. studies
- 2012 Intra ACP call
- JKUAT was awarded the project in partnership with a consortium of 9 universities of Africa and 1 EU technical partner. The project was code named Mobility to Enhance Training of Engineering Graduates in Africa (METEGA).
- The project created a system for students application for scholarships, selection, admission and monitoring of progress during the training
- Total funding was more than € 2,000,000.
- JKUAT obtained 5 MSc students coming from target universities in Africa (target group 1 and group 2)
- The project was for a period of 5 years and the progress of training students has been good. So far the JKUAT students MSc students from other countries are in their final year of study
- Through METEGA consortium more than 20 graduates from Kenya benefited and are at various stages of completing their post graduate studies