Kerugoya: Kirinyaga University has challenged newly admitted students to go beyond academic excellence and use their knowledge and skills to develop innovative solutions to societal challenges. University Vice Chancellor Prof. Mary Ndung’u emphasized the importance of innovation, urging the new cohort to become solution providers and job creators in a rapidly changing economy.
According to Kenya News Agency, Prof. Ndung’u made these remarks during the university’s matriculation ceremony in Kerugoya, where she formally welcomed the new students into the Kirinyaga University community. The event was graced by Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Academic, Research and Student Affairs Prof. Charles Omwandho, members of the Senate, deans, and faculty members.
Prof. Ndung’u highlighted that the university has established an innovation ecosystem linking teaching and learning with industry while transforming research into enterprises. She noted that students would receive support through the university’s Innovation and Incubation Hub to develop their ideas, create enterprises, and contribute to employment creation.
The Vice Chancellor encouraged the freshers to embrace research, entrepreneurship, and ethical leadership from the onset of their academic journey while maintaining discipline, integrity, and curiosity. She stated that the university is committed to technology-driven and competency-based training aligned with the country’s development priorities, including Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
To address the demands of the modern economy, Kirinyaga University is expanding its innovation infrastructure, modern laboratories, and digital learning resources to enhance the quality of training and provide students an environment conducive to creativity and research. As part of continuous learning, the university will bolster support for student innovations through mentorship, patenting, and commercialization, enabling promising ideas to progress beyond the classroom into the market.
Prof. Ndung’u further encouraged the new students to seize the opportunities available at the institution and develop skills that would enable them to compete effectively in the world of work and entrepreneurship. She urged the students to uphold the university’s values while using their time at the institution to acquire knowledge, develop practical skills, and pursue innovative solutions to real-world problems.
