UoN Makes Strides in Academia-Industry Linkages Through AFRETEC Network

The University of Nairobi hosted the African Engineering and Technology (AFRETEC) Network workshop focused on Academia-Industry collaboration for synergistic experiential learning, knowledge creation, innovation and entrepreneurship. The workshop was possible through the Directorate of University Advancement and Institutional Development and was held on the 9th and 10th of May 2024.

The value proposition for the potential partners is the combined intellectual assets of researchers and students from the leading engineering and technology universities in Africa.

The discussions were centered around co-creation, collaboration, and partnership in learning, knowledge creation and entrepreneurship. The workshop addressed themes premised on AFRETEC’s Teaching and Learning, Knowledge Creation and Entrepreneurship pillars. These themes also included Company Series, Knowledge Creation, Partnerships and Tech Startup Gap Funding.

The Company Series explored UoN’s experimental partnership model being developed with selected industry players for engineering students. The model is expected to establish collaborative agreements with guidelines and best practices for final-year students to be attached to organizations on a long-term basis (6 - 9 months) where they work under industry mentors to solve identified problems in the workplace.

The knowledge creation pathways theme explored pathways that the AFRETEC researchers and knowledge creators can partner with research organizations and other corporate organizations to address emergent and cutting-edge applied research in effort to address knowledge gaps in industry, society and business. The workshop explored two paths: Industry research internships and exploratory technology transfer avenues. Participants include national and international research organizations and corporate organizations with products and services that require resource-intensive research.