JOOUST VLIR IUC Project turns One!
It is exactly one year since the JOOUST VLIR-IUC project was officially launched and spanners of the five sub-projects got on the wheels. It is time to take a pause and look back to what has been realized and also strategize for the next move in the second year. Three day Write-shop held at the Wigot Gardens in Kisumu city brought researchers in the five sub-projects, University Management Board members and the University Council members together to review and validate the first year's activities and plan for the second year.
The Write-Shop had the blessings of the council members led by the Chairman of council who gave his keynote address as he opened the Write-shop officially. While giving his opening remarks, the chairman of council Prof. Shem Oyoo Wandiga marveled at the collaboration of research minds synergized in the project for the benefit of the university and its immediate community. Prof. Wandiga stated that if all the research findings can implemented, so many societal problems will be solved thus providing access to a better life within communities and beyond. He however regretted the fact that most research works today are only theoretical rather than practical, and urged the researchers to find a way of bridging this.
In support of these, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Emily Achieng’ Akuno acknowledged that JOOUST has built a name for itself, as a home of research sort after for solutions to global challenges. Prof. Akuno stated that it is no mean feat for the University to attract support inform of collaboration, from five renowned world lass universities. She added that the five Flemish Universities converging to strengthen JOOUST’s capacity, will impact in the region through the consolidation knowledge for holistic development. Prof. Akuno challenged the sub-projects to maximize the potential of the post graduate students to ensure that the project goal is implemented.
The local steering committee chairman Prof. Denis Ochuodho, who is also the acting Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Student Affairs and Research, lauded the Sub-project leaders for their excellent performance in the first one year of the first phase of the project.
The JOOUST VLIR-IUC project commemorates its first year with fifteen PhD students already on board, pursuing their degrees in the Flemish Universities in collaboration with JOOUST. The project remains optimistic for what lies ahead of the remaining nine years.
