The Vice-Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kibwage (seated, sixth from left) and the Director, State Department of Higher Education and Research, Mr Darius Ogutu (seated, seventh from left), pose for a group photo following the ACE II National Steering Committee at Main Campus, Njoro on 8th December 2023.

Africa Higher Education Centers of Excellence National Steering Committee Meeting held at Egerton University.

Egerton University hosted a delegation from the Ministry of Education, Moi University and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) for the Africa Higher Education Centre of Excellence (ACE) National Steering Committee meeting.

The delegation led by Mr Darius Ogutu, Director of University Education at the State Department for Higher Education and Research (SDHER) was received by the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kibwage at the Main Campus on 8^th December 2023.

The ACE II Project is a World Bank initiative with governments of participating countries to support higher education institutions specializing in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Environment, Agriculture, applied Social Science / Education and Health.

Mr Paul Mungai ACE II National Coordinator highlighted key achievements of ACE II Projects in Kenya undertaken by Egerton University, JOOUST and Moi University. Some of the successes were building institutional capacity, enhanced research capacity in respect to research outputs and papers developed, revenues generated, infrastructure development and the number of students who have gone through.

Despite the achievements, the ACE II participating institutions faced and overcame various challenges, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, which affected the exchange programme and stringent public procurement procedures.

Egerton University’s Vice-Chancellor noted that the project has impacted society in terms of dissemination of research information, outreach and extension services. He said that he was looking forward to the development of regional centres that are integrated within each of the universities.

The Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture and Agribusiness Management (CESAAM) at Egerton University has supported over 200 postgraduate students in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management, Animal Sciences Department, Department of Food Science, Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Department of Agricultural Extension and Department of Agricultural Engineering.