A leading Hungarian university is poised to jointly work with two technical-orientated universities to develop and strengthen the skills of trainers in 13 National Polytechnics in the country.
Óbuda University will work with the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) and Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT) in a technology and skills transfer that will benefit trainers and trainees in Welding, Mechatronics and Electronic Engineering in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions.
At his office, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of the Kenyan government together with the Hungarian Ambassador to Kenya, Amb Zsolt Mészáros.
Present during the occasion included the Principal Secretary for Higher Education, Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, the Vice Chancellor’s TUK, Prof. Benedict Mutua and his DeKUT counterpart, Prof. Peter Muchiri.
Machogu hailed the initiative, saying it will enable Kenyans to secure skills that meet international standards.
Also joining TUK and DeKUT in the exchange programme is Morendat Institute of Oil and Gas, which offers training in oil and gas-related courses.
Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) is also part of the parties to the MoU and will be charged with facilitating all the activities to achieve the objectives of the MoU.
Mészáros said the exchange programme will provide opportunities to young Kenyans to secure employment opportunities locally and abroad.
Dr. Inyangala said the exchange programme will help improve the instructional capacities of trainers in TVET institutions.
The MoU will take place over a five-year period after which it will be reviewed for further collaboration.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
