Making friends at the Equator: University delegation strengthens relationships in Kenya

Wednesday, 28 November 2012

Dr Eleanor Fisher, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, and Dr John Gathenya, a research fellow of the Walker Institute is based in Nairobi, who met for the first time and shook hands across the Equator in Kenya

Earlier this month a delegation from the University of Reading visited Kenya to strengthen links, engage with alumni and build partnerships. The team included Dr Eleanor Fisher, a new member of the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, and Dr John Gathenya, a research fellow of the Walker Institute who is based in Nairobi.

The delegation was led by Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Steven Mithen and also included Dr Peter Dorward from the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development and Professor Uma Kambhampati from the School of Politics, Economics and International Relations, and Beth Reed from the International Office.

As a university, Reading has a long history of working in Kenya and the first international student to come to Reading was a Kenyan in 1904. In the not too distant past, staff from Reading were also part of a Ministry of Agriculture commission that planned for agriculture education as well as being involved in curriculum development and staff recruitment for the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Nairobi. The first Kenyan Director of Agriculture, Mr Paul Mirie, was a Reading graduate.

With Reading now in the top 1% of universities in the world based on the excellence of its teaching and research, it is continuing to expand its international profile, and has placed a high priority on further building its associations with Kenya.

At a reception for past students held in Nairobi on 8 November Professor Mithen said: "Reading is extremely proud of its long association with Kenya and has the pleasure of teaching many outstanding students from the country. We are committed to supporting the continued development of higher education and research in Kenya.

"Reading has benefited enormously from the Kenyan students that have come to our campus. The research we have undertaken with government institutions, universities and NGOS has played a key role in the development of Reading as an international university"

Currently staff from Reading are involved in several research projects in Kenya including with the University of Nairobi on identifying policies and factors that stimulate innovation and agricultural growth in East Africa (funded by DFID and ESRC). Reading's Walker Institute for climate change is currently funded by the Rockefeller Foundation to support agricultural research institutions in East Africa further develop capacity to address issues in climate change and resilience.

During the visit the delegation visited the Universities of Nairobi, Egerton, Maseno, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and United States International University as well as Innovations for Poverty Action and the World Agroforestry Centre, to strengthen links and identify opportunities for collaboration in research and teaching. The delegation returned to the UK inspired by the growth and dynamism of Kenyan universities and looks forward to building the new research collaborations and teaching partnerships.