The Ministry of Education has urged universities to focus on research and innovation to address emerging challenges and graduates to meet job market requirements.
The government said it has invested heavily in digital literacy programmes to enable it to implement policies in the higher education sector.
Higher Education PS Beatrice Inyangala said today’s entrepreneurial society demands creativity and innovation to develop the economy.
“Institutions for higher learning can create an impact by formulating solutions to different emerging challenges. They can realise this by prioritising research and innovation,” she said.
Inyangala's speech was read by Johnson Njuguna during a graduation ceremony at Tom Mboya University in Homa Bay town. The PS challenged the university to review its curriculum and instructional methods to focus more on nurturing talent.
She said this will ensure the university produces competent, marketable and globally competitive graduates.
The PS said the university will remain relevant if it strives to produce graduates with requisite academic, technical and professional skills.
“The university can develop extensive research on academic programmes focusing on the Lake Victoria region and take the opportunity to ensure appropriate integration with technological advances,” Inyangala said.
This was Tom Mboya University's inaugural graduation ceremony since it started in 2016. It was a constituent college of Maseno University before it received its charter to become autonomous in July 2022.
Some 729 graduands were awarded PhDs, masters, bachelors, diplomas and certificates.
University acting chancellor Dr Augusta Abate, acting VC Prof Charles Ochola , Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, MPs Peter Kaluma (Homa Bay Town), Lilian Gogo (Rangwe), Millie Odhiambo (Suba North) and Martin Owino (Ndhiwa) were present.
Abate said the university is ready to play a pivotal role in developing highly talented, well-trained graduates and entrepreneurs to achieve its goal of becoming an internationally recognised institution.
“The Ajira digital programme through government partnership has helped in job creation. The university is also collaborating with key research organisations in areas of health, agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries,” he said.
Governor Wanga described the inaugural graduation as one of its kind in Homa Bay as that is the only university in the county.
She said her administration will offer 20 slots of paid internship for graduates to work in the county government for six months.
The graduates are expected to help in skills and training, need assessments and the Blue Economy and Climate Change initiatives as the county strives to become the most climate-resilient devolved unit in Kenya.
Wanga said they are creating an enabling environment for investment and development around the university to attract more students to housing and accommodating rooms, scholarships and mentorship programmes.
“My government wants to support and collaborate with this university to achieve socio-economic growth. Homa Bay has the longest shore of Lake Victoria and our investment for a sustainable blue economy,” Wanga said.
Gogo said the research, which will be conducted by the university, will offer solutions to local problems.
“Tom Mboya University is already specialising as a blue economy-oriented institution. This will distinguish it from the others by the kind of degrees it will offer,” Gogo said.
