Tharaka University College is racing towards carving its own niche in higher education in the region by introducing dryland farming and minerology courses.
The move is expected to scale up the fast-growing university college that is expected to be charted soon on the top cream of higher education institutions not only in Africa but also globally.
The vision of the institution which is a constituent college of Chuka University is ‘to be an adaptive centre of excellence in teaching, research, innovation and outreach for societal transformation’.
The prime institution is situated in a semi-arid part of Tharaka South Sub County near Gatunga market.
The region is rich in copper, gold and titanium minerals which have never been exploited but said to be worth billions.
The institution led by Principal Prof Peter Kinyua Muriungi has already established Faculty of Science Engineering and Technology, Faculty of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences and Faculty of Business which are offering courses which are highly competitive in the job market.
Speaking during a three-day annual international research conference at that ended on Friday last week, Prof Muriungi said the target of the institution is to collaborate with the top-notch global universities for academic exchange programs
The conference attracted over 100 participates from across the globe was conducted virtually due to the effect of Covid-19 pandemic that has wreaked havoc the entire world.
Speaking during the launch of the event Prof Muriungi said the theme was ‘Role of Science, Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development’.
The keynote speakers were; Dr Stephen Karimi (Director of Research and accreditation quality, NACOSTI) and Prof B.O Bebe, the acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Extension at Egerton University.
“We have partnered with Chuka University, Meru University and Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) to organize the conference,” said Prof Muriungi.
He said other partners were; Dr Jenneke Van der Wal (Leiden University, Netherlands), Prof David Adger (Queen Mary University UK), Prof Klaus Abels (University College London, UK), Prof Jennifer Culbertson, the University of Edinburgh, Scotland) and Dr Alexander Martin (The University of Edinburgh, UK- Scotland).
The Deputy Principal Academic Research and Student Affairs, Prof Veronica Nyaga noted that the institution will continue to hold more research conferences in order to share scientific and academic experiences with scholars and researchers from across the globe.
