KENYA
It was win after win after win for Kenya’s higher education sector during the second half of 2024 as three of its top universities took huge leaps in three different disciplines. The Technical University of Kenya (TU-K) boasts a one-of-a-kind radio telescope; a new programme in prosthetics and orthotics is coming at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT); and Mount Kenya University (MKU) launched a maritime academy.
TU-K, in the middle of Nairobi County, is an institution largely known for its emphasis on technology and practicality in its academic activities. Intending to compete against top space explorers around the globe, TU-K currently has the largest astronomy group in the country – a fact that saw it marked as the national centre for training in radio astronomy and space science.
In 2022, TU-K made headlines for launching a one-of-a-kind satellite dubbed TUKSat-1, aimed at monitoring fishing and other activities on Lake Victoria. Two years later, the institution topped its record by launching the first-ever radio telescope in the country, becoming the third institution with such an installation on the continent after South Africa and Mauritius.
Training across disciplines
The radio telescope, named the Transient Array Radio Telescope (TART), was launched on 30 August and is expected to play a key role in developing local talent in astronomy, space science and engineering. A radio telescope is a device that collects and measures radio noise power from various celestial sources such as planets, satellites, asteroids and comets.
“The TART will be used to train students from electrical engineering, computer science, and astrophysics programmes at the undergraduate level. These students will gain practical experience in handling and operating radio telescopes, which will enhance their understanding of electronics, signal processing and observational astronomy,” said Dr Willice Obonyo, astrophysics expert and a lecturer at the department of astronomy and space science at TU-K.
“Postgraduate students can also use the TART for research projects aimed at improving the telescope’s capabilities in areas like antenna design, receiver performance, software development and data processing techniques,” Obonyo told University World News.
According to Obonyo, Kenya has a solid foundation of knowledge in space science and astronomy, but the lack of hands-on experience has been a major gap. The TART will help address this by providing students with practical experience.
“Several universities in Kenya already offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in astronomy and space science, and they can leverage the TART to equip their students with essential practical skills in observational astronomy and space technology,” he said.
Local expertise to be developed
The TART is calibrated to receive radio signals from space objects like satellites, stars, planets, galaxies among other interesting celestial bodies at 1.575GHz. Similar equipment, but with more powerful radio receivers, are found in South Africa (MeerKAT), Australia (Australian Telescope Compact Array) and the United States (Jansky Very Large Array).
“TU-K aims to train Kenyans in astronomy and space science, a field traditionally dominated by first-world nations, to build local expertise in space technology, satellite monitoring and radio astronomy. These skills have the potential to drive economic growth, foster technological innovation and enhance national capacity in space science and sustainable development,” Obonyo said.
Professor Paul Baki of the Technical University of Kenya (left), and to his right, the acting director general of the Kenya Space Agency, Brigadier Hillary B Kipkosgey, Image provided
New prosthetics and orthotics curriculum at JKUAT
Located 30km from Nairobi in Kiambu County is JKUAT – another institution that has extended its reach.
On 3 June, JKUAT started developing a curriculum for a BSc in Prosthetics and Orthotics, a programme aimed at dealing with the needs of the more than 3 million physically disabled Kenyans who lack access to assistive technology (AT) devices.
According to the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey report, more than five million Kenyans were living with some form of disability at the time, 3 million of them unable to afford or get access to AT devices that could make their lives easier. It is this need that drove JKUAT to develop the curriculum – a first in East Africa. The programme is expected to produce a skilled workforce that can empower the local industry to produce high-quality and affordable prosthetic and orthotic devices suited to the needs of the people.
“JKUAT has been committed towards initiatives that increase access to specialised healthcare services. This is part of the university’s commitment to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3, which focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all,” said Dr Reuben Thuo, the principal of the College of Health Sciences at JKUAT.
Assistive devices for more people
“The programme is expected to deliver students who can design, fabricate, and fit prosthetic and orthotic devices that help people with physical disabilities. This will lower the cost of AT devices and, therefore, enable more people to lead active and fulfilling lives,” Thuo told University World News.
“The rehabilitative sciences department is committed to inclusivity and improving care for people with disabilities, in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, or CRPD. So, the graduates from this programme are expected to sustain this commitment as it is key for development,” Thuo explained.
He added that there are plans to build a dedicated laboratory for the prosthetics and orthotics programme. The lab is expected to be fully operational by the time students enter their second year when the practical lessons begin.
The programme is expected to receive its first student cohort in September 2025. It will start with a maximum of 20 students to enable adequate hands-on training and individual supervision. JKUAT intends to source some of its trainers from Circleg-Kenya and Ottobock-Kenya with which it has partnered in developing the programme.
Sitting in the middle is shipping and maritime affairs principal secretary, Geoffrey Kaituko, during a demonstration of the equipment at the maritime academy launch, Image provided
Advanced maritime training coming
About 12km from JKUAT, in the same county, lies Mount Kenya University (MKU), a university set on meeting all student, institutional and societal needs in every aspect of its activities.
After conducting a feasibility study in South Korea, Dubai, India, England, and Germany, among other countries, MKU realised there is a global shortage of maritime professionals. Their findings also revealed that Kenya was limited in advanced maritime training, a fact that forced Kenyan seafarers to travel outside the country for Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) training.
MKU aims to tackle local and international maritime needs by venturing into maritime training. On 26 September, MKU launched the fully equipped and functional Malindi Maritime Academy in Malindi, Kilifi County.
“The decision to start this programme was driven by the growing demand for seafarers and maritime engineers worldwide. These programmes are tailored to meet the evolving needs of the maritime sector, including navigation, ship operations, marine technology and port management,” said Dr Chris Mutembei, the director of the Centre for Professional Development at MKU and the programme coordinator.
“It is also the first institution in Kenya to offer computer-based STCW training, addressing a critical gap in the industry. By providing world-class maritime education and training locally, MKU is transforming Kenya’s maritime landscape and positioning the country as a regional leader in maritime studies. Our academy will equip students with cutting-edge skills to meet the challenges of modern seafaring, including automation, smart ships, and maritime technology,” Mutembei told University World News.
Hands-on learning vital
According to him, MKU has made investments in state-of-the-art infrastructure at the academy, which includes advanced simulators, computer-based STCW training systems, and digital learning platforms. The academy also features a robust ICT infrastructure, enabling computer-based training (CBT) and hands-on learning with interactive displays – key in a modern digital maritime environment.
The curriculum will include courses in marine navigation, shipbuilding, fishing technology, marine conservation and logistics, which are expected to raise the country’s blue economy through job creation in the coastal region. With over 50,000 seafarers needed globally, the academy will equip young Kenyans with skills in navigation, engineering, port operations and logistics management, making them highly employable both locally and internationally, according to Mutembei.
“The recent accreditation by the Kenya Maritime Authority to offer training for seafarers under the STCW reflects our commitment to meeting international maritime standards,” explained Professor Deogratius Jaganyi, vice-chancellor at MKU.
“The academy integrates practical training as a cornerstone of its education model. We have incorporated a mandatory one-year sea time and industry attachments during the training programme. This real-world experience will expose students to the day-to-day operations of seafaring, from working with advanced automation systems to handling logistics at sea,” Jaganyi said.
“Our long-term vision is to establish a full spectrum of programmes across the entire maritime value chain, including port operations, logistics management, maritime safety, and research and innovation, to ensure that MKU remains a leader in maritime education, both regionally and globally,” he said.
The academy will also help promote environmental sustainability by implementing sustainable fishing practices and marine conservation into its programmes.
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