The University of Nairobi visits ParisTech

The five ParisTech schools involved in the FACEA project – AgroParisTech, Chimie ParisTech, the École des Ponts ParisTech, the Institut d’Optique Graduate School and MINES ParisTech – were delighted to host a delegation from the University of Nairobi following ParisTech’s trip to Kenya in July 2019.

The schools presented the French system of engineering qualifications and also had chance to showcase their specific areas of expertise. The members of the delegation were Prof. Rose Nyikal, Principal  of the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Prof. Ayub Njoroge Gitau, Dean of the School of Engineering in the College of Architecture and Engineering, Dr. Thomas Ochuku Mbuya, Head of the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering in the College of Architecture and Engineering, Prof. Leonidah Kerubo, Dean of the School of Physical Sciences in the College of Biological and Physical Sciences, and Prof. Francis Mulaa, Head of the “Engineering and Science Complex” project. Given the differences between the French and Kenyan systems, it was only natural that lots of questions were asked. The presentations also looked at the research laboratories and their different structures and wide spectrum of research fields (energy, water, optics, chemistry, agronomy, environment, civil engineering, etc.). Many valuable discussions were held, on topics ranging from the organisation of teaching to the projects presented by the researchers.

As well as attending the presentations, the members of the delegation also visited the premises of the different schools, in particular the Co-innovation Lab and the GreenTech incubator at the École des Ponts ParisTech, and the Experimental Teaching Lab at the Institut d’Optique Graduate School. The representatives of the University of Nairobi also had the occasion to meet with two start-ups, LOMA and Energo, at the Chimie Paris Innov incubator run by Chimie ParisTech.

The visit was a fantastic learning opportunity for all involved. Discussions between the ParisTech schools and the University of Nairobi are set to continue with a view to launching a number of joint scientific and academic projects in the coming months.

*FACEA: French-African Cooperation for Engineering in Africa

 **ADESFA: “Appui au développement de l’enseignement supérieur français en Afrique” = Support for the Development of French Higher Education in Africa