Kenya Highlands University (KHU) continues to strengthen its commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and strategic partnerships following a benchmarking visit to Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST). The engagement brought together academic and administrative leaders from both institutions to explore opportunities for collaboration in innovation, research, STEM education, curriculum development, and community engagement.
The KHU delegation was led by Dr. John Kitur, Registrar, Academic Affairs, and comprised of Dr. Sophie Ahono, Dean of the School of Education and Social Sciences; Dr. Nicholas Kiget, Dean of the School of Computing and Information Sciences; Dr. Caleb Onjure, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies; Mr. Joseph Koech, ICT Director; and Dr. Judith Chebwogen, Physics Lecturer.
The delegation was received by Prof. Christopher Ngacho, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Planning, Research and Innovation), together with Dr. Maxwell Mageto, Chairperson, Department of Physics; Dr. Teresa Okoth, Director, Curriculum Review and Development; Dr. Sum Psusma, Director, Science Park, Innovation and Incubation; Dr. Francis Gaitho, Senior Lecturer, Department of Physics; Dr. Rahab Kamau, Principal Investigator (PI), STEM Power Outreach Program; Dr. Ondulo; and other members of the MMUST leadership team.
A major highlight of the engagement was the exploration of collaboration in innovation, technology incubation, and commercialization of research outputs, alongside opportunities for KHU students and staff to access the computing resources and specialized facilities at the MMUST STEM Power Lab. The partnership is expected to strengthen innovation ecosystems, promote entrepreneurship and technology development, enhance teaching, learning and research, and provide practical pathways for transforming research outcomes into market-driven solutions with socio-economic impact.
The engagement also provided an opportunity for both institutions to share experiences and best practices in curriculum transformation and the adoption of Competency-Based Education (CBE). Discussions focused on aligning academic programmes with emerging technologies, industry expectations, and the evolving demands of the global labour market.
Recognizing the important role of universities in driving sustainable development, the two institutions further explored opportunities for joint community outreach programmes, collaborative research initiatives, staff and student exchanges, and capacity-building activities. Such collaborations will enhance knowledge sharing while maximizing the impact of university expertise and resources in addressing societal and national development challenges.
As a key outcome of the benchmarking visit, KHU and MMUST agreed to initiate the development of a structured framework for collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The proposed agreement will guide cooperation in innovation and incubation, technology commercialization, STEM education, curriculum development, research collaboration, community engagement, and knowledge exchange.
Speaking after the engagement, Dr. Kitur emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships in advancing academic excellence, fostering innovation, and creating expanded opportunities for students and staff. He noted that collaboration between institutions of higher learning remains critical in building future-ready universities capable of responding effectively to emerging educational, technological, and societal needs.
The benchmarking visit is a key step in KHU’s efforts to strengthen partnerships that drive innovation, enhance research, and enrich student learning. Through these engagements, the University remains a dynamic institution committed to producing impactful graduates, innovative solutions, and transformative contributions to society.
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