Daystar University hosts Academic Colloquium
The CEO, Commission for University Education - Prof. Mike Kuria addresses participants at the Academic colloquium organized by Daystar University
On February 24, 2023, Daystar University hosted an academic colloquium themed: Distilling content from faculty publications. The colloquium was convened by Office of the DVC- Academic, Research and Student Affairs represented by Prof. Samuel Muriithi, and hosted by the Vice-chancellor Prof. Laban P. Ayiro.
Delivering his keynote address, CEO of the Commission for University Education Prof. Mike Kuria advised academic institutions to stop being ivory towers and guide students to communicate their ideas in simple language.
Speaking about the future student, Prof. Kuria urged Daystar University to create an engaging culture that prepares students for “the future job that does not exist today.”
This future job, he explained, will include greater automation, increased flexibility with more people working remotely out-of-office, and with increased collaboration. He pointed out that some of the skills to be required of the future student will include: capacity to leverage on human skills-creativity, communication, collaboration and empathy, and mastery of technology relevant to one’s area of study.
He however, urged Kenyan universities to be careful not to produce people of “nuts and bolts” only; handy men for the world market, but rather produce professionals who can fix the bolts, while at the same time able to strategize.
“It is not enough for you to become an engineer, you need skills from other disciplines as well,” he advised as he lauded Daystar’s Liberal Arts tradition that produces all round students.
Expounding on research, Prof. Laban P. Ayiro said a researcher must understand the nature of the knowledge he or she is dealing with.
“If you want to be a strong researcher, you must be grounded in the underpinning of the area of your research,” he offered.
Prof. Ayiro further challenged Graduate students to read widely, saying that a person who reads widely is able to easily identify an area of study and craft an appropriate topic.
On his part, the Acting DVC ARSA Prof. Samuel Muriithi called on scholars to simplify information so that it can make sense to students.
The University Chaplain, Rev. Miano Weche called on scholars to endeavor to make their knowledge accessible.