The Technical University of Kenya (TU-K) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH (HZB), Berlin. The signing ceremony took place at the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany residence in Nairobi. TU-K Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Benedict Mutua, signed the MoU in presence of Ambassador H.E Sebastian Groth, Head of the user Coordination and Technical User Support Department Helmholtz Zentrum Dr. Antje Vollmer (representing the Director). Present at the function were Deputy Vice-Chancellor in-charge of Institutional Advancement and Enterprises, Prof. Paul Wambua, Chairperson of the Department of Chemistry and Material Science, Dr. Clare Muhanji, among others.
H.E Groth, noted that his country was committed to research and other activities that promote global growth. He added that there was no better partnership than connecting science and entrepreneurship. He was glad that HZB was signing an MoU with TU-K. He further observed that Kenya has a very educated and ambitious population and therefore urged the youth to take up their position in innovation and development. The aim of the MoU will be to identify and establish academic collaborations. The areas of cooperation include: Energy Material Science, particularly in the fields of Photovoltaics, Chemical Energy Conversion and Storage.
Other areas of interest will be; exchange of information concerning professional experiences in fields of interest for both Parties, cooperative research projects to be carried out in selected fields that are mutually agreed upon; faculty exchange, research personnel and students, visits and sharing of experiences and participating in conferences, symposia, and seminars. In a move that will create academic environment that is responsive to societal needs, TU-K has established partnerships and collaborations with research Institutions, business community, industry and other partners.
The university has enjoyed cordial partnership with universities and institutions in Germany for many years. Both universities have benefited from staff empowerment, research and enriched teaching and training. In 2023, TU-K’s final year undergraduate students from the Department of Chemistry and Material Science, Lucas Odhiambo Sije and Rodgers Odhiambo Otieno, were beneficiaries of the Summer School at HZB. They were accompanied by a tutorial fellow, Dr. Miruka Andere. Sije later on graduated with a first class honours and was the Valedictorian during the graduation ceremony of the same year.
Nancy Ochiba and Daisy Nyawira (PhD students, Department of Chemistry and Material Science), were invited to research stay at HZB. Prior to formalising of the Mou, a delegation from Germany, led by Dr. Vollmer visited the University and were received by DVC Prof. Wambua along with Deputy Vice-Chancellor in-charge of Research and Technology Development (RTD), Prof. Isaac Orina.
The team which is attending the NEPHEWS Workshop in Collaboration with Africa, toured Chemistry laboratories and donated equipment to be used in research and training of students. Dr. Vollmer explained that Germany universities teach professional skills as well as collaborate with local industries to ensure that education is aligned with the market needs.
HZB, is publicly funded research institution and member of the Helmholtz Association of Germany Research Centers (HGF). It operates the synchrotron radiation source BESSY II as research infrastructure as well as modern laboratories and instruments for the investigation of structures and processes in materials, used by numerous scientists from all over the world.
