The first steps: JOOUST freshers orientation
Two thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight candidates who sat for their KCSE in December 2022 have started their new academic journey at JaramogiOginga Odinga University of Science and Technology after successfully going through the Admission process.
The students who, in the company of their parents and guardians, excitedly thronged the university grounds on 4th September 2023 have been taken through a meticulous one week long orientation program to help them familiarize themselves with different departments and sections within the university.
While giving her official address to the first years at the climax of the orientation program, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Emily Achieng’ Akuno challenged the fresh men and women to take advantage of the opportunity they have of joining the university and use it for their own benefit in order to shape their future. Prof. Akuno, who in jest referred to the freshers as her agemates in JOOUST, explained to the students how the bigger fraction of their academic journey is to be covered by themselves and so they ought not rest on their laurels. “You are the main players in this game, the rest of us are just giving you company may be to cheer you up and see you excel. So the ball is in your court my dear students. Your lecturers are here just to show you how to do it but not to do it for you, always remember you are the doer” stressed the Vice Chancellor.
During the orientation program, the first year students were also introduced to the University dons drawn from the eight schools who addressed them on various academic programs currently offered in the university. The lecturers explained to them in detail their significance in the job market. This marked an awesome moment to most of the students having an opportunity to interact closely with the academic chiefs, especially professors.
The arrival of the new students has swiftly changed the “atmospheric temperature” around the university which has been evidently on low key since May 2023 when the continuing students were released for their long holiday break.
