Egerton University signs General Agreement for Enhanced Collaborations

Egerton University, Moi University, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science & Technology (JOOUST) jointly signed a General Agreement for Cooperation with the University for Development Studies in Tamale, Ghana on 27 May 2022. The Agreement will allow joint capacity building, research and innovation among the four institutions of higher learning.

From left seated, the Vice-Chancellors Prof. Isaac Kibwage (Egerton University), Prof. Stephen Agong' (JOOUST), and Prof. Isaac Kosgey (Moi University) sign a General Agreement for Cooperation with Prof. Felix Kofi Abagale from the University for Development Studies in Tamale Ghana on 27 May 2022. The General Agreement seeks to further cooperation among the institutions that host the World Bank's Africa Centre of Excellence projects.

Specifically, the Agreement seeks to explore cooperation in areas such as strengthening academic programmes, developing joint faculty and students' capacity building programmes, and having joint research, innovation, and outreach programmes.

The signing of the Agreement was a culmination of a three-day regional meeting of Vice-Chancellors hosting the World Bank-funded four (4) African Centers of Excellence (ACE) in Ghana and Kenya.

Egerton University's Vice-Chancellor Professor Isaac Kibwage signed the Agreement on behalf of the University and presented Egerton's role in sustainable agriculture, underscoring the importance of linking medical sciences with agriculture.

Also present were the acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research & Extension Professor Bockline Bebe and the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture and Agribusiness Management (CESAAM) Director Professor George Owuor. CESAAM is an ACE project at Egerton University. Prof. Owuor and Prof. Bebe presented key linkage benefits of international linkage in developing joint programmes and short courses as sustainability avenues for Kenya and Ghana's programmes.

Vice-Chancellors Prof. Isaac Kosgey (Moi University), Prof. Stephen Agong' (JOOUST) and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof. Felix Kofi Abagale (the University for Development Studies – Ghana) signed for their respective institutions.

CESAAM at Egerton University is part of 24 Centers of Excellence supported by the World Bank to establish regional hubs of excellence in five priority areas: industry, health, agriculture, applied statistics and agriculture.

CESAAM now supports 240 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. The Centre now hosts students from the whole region, with 23% being regional and 52% female.