SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE CHANCELLOR, PROF. SHELLEMIAH

Transcription

1 SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE CHANCELLOR, PROF. SHELLEMIAH O. KEYA DURING THE 3 RD GRADUATION CEREMONY OF DEDAN KIMATHI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY ON FRIDAY, MAY 29 TH, 2015 AT THE GRADUATION SQUARE Page 1 of 30

2 Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Education Science and technology Representative Prof. Dulacha Barako, Council Chairman Prof. Ndirangu Kioni, Vice Chancellor DeKUT Fellow Chancellors, Prof Douglass Odhiambo, TUM, Prof Geoffrey Ole Maloy JKUAT, Prof Godfrey Muruiki, Kisii University Chief Guest Mr Duncan Ndegwa Page 2 of 30

3 HE the Governor of Nyeri County Council Members of DEKUT Members of the County Government and Assembly; Vice Chancellors from other universities Deputy Vice Chancellors University Staff Parents and Guardians Graduands Distinguished Guests Page 3 of 30

4 Ladies and Gentlemen, Muriega andù witu, Karibuni, Welcome, bienvenue, good morning to you all. I am pleased to be with you today at this 3 rd Graduation Ceremony of Dedan Kimathi University of Technology. Page 4 of 30

5 This Ceremony is a special and momentous occasion in the life of our University, you the Graduands, and your families. It is another demonstration of the growth of our university towards building Kenya s human resource. Today we are conferring and awarding 1,271 students with various degrees and Page 5 of 30

6 diplomas. I am pleased to announce that Dedan Kimathi University of Technology is the first University to graduate the accelerated intake of students admitted in At this juncture allow me to congratulate Mr Duncan Nderitu Ndegwa, holder of MA (Honours), University of St. Andrews, Diploma Makerere College, FCBI, EGH, who has just been awarded and conferred Page 6 of 30

7 with the Doctor of Business Administration (Honoris Causa) from Dedan Kimathi University. He is a pioneer economist who contributed immensely to the development of Kenya s economic and monetary system. The graduand spearheaded the establishment of the Central Bank, Civil Service following attainment of independence. He is an entrepreneur who has made a mark in the development of the society through Page 7 of 30

8 establishment of educational institutions including former Dedan Kimathi Institute of Technology, today Dedan Kimathi University. The University is graduating the first cohort of 44 students in Bachelor of Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality management. These students have benefitted from the University Page 8 of 30

9 conservancy that serves as a learning laboratory. The University is also graduating its first Doctor of philosophy in Food Science and Technology. Again the university is awarding the first M.Sc. in Industrial Engineering. Further DEKUT is graduating its first cohort of 8 students with M.Sc. in Geospatial Information Systems and Remote Sensing. I am pleased to note that Page 9 of 30

10 the university was a front runner in recognizing the emerging role of GIS. Last weekend at this graduation square, we were privileged to host a historical event, the beatification of Sister Irene Stefani Nyaatha This was an honour and a blessing to our Page 10 of 30

11 university. This event elevated us into the international realm during which the university enjoyed free public relations, and marketing globally. Page 11 of 30

12 Significant Achievements Now, let me highlight a few of the University s recent achievements and developments. 1. Coffee Technology course developed in consultation with stakeholders in the Coffee industry, launched in 2009 Page 12 of 30

13 continues to train coffee tasters. As well Dedan Kimathi Coffee is now selling in selected supermarkets. 2. University won USAID funded SERVIR East Africa Project being one of the two Kenyan universities to win the coveted East and Southern Africa small Grants Page 13 of 30

14 Program that is coordinated by the Regional centre for Mapping and Resource development. The project develops pilot land information system based on the land administration domain model. Page 14 of 30

15 3. The university won a slice of Geopower Africa in geothermal resource development. Geopower Africa is a initiative of the US Government and launched by US President Barack Obama. 4. Patenting: DEKUT staff and students have come up with unique innovations Page 15 of 30

16 resulting in securing patents from KIPI. Some of the patents are a) mechanical Tea Distiller, b) Permanent Magnet Wind Turbine, c) Automatic and Universal Laptop Cooler and d) Mobile Pregnancy Monitoring and Health Services System. Page 16 of 30

17 5. Community Outreach: The University has maintained a cordial relationship with the community demonstrated by a number of its services extended to the community, It turn the University appreciate the involvement of the community/private sector in developing Page 17 of 30

18 hostels that caters for the need of students. May I take this opportunity to thank The Kenya Government, Nyeri County Government and all partners for the support received during the year without which the above achievements would not Page 18 of 30

19 have been possible? I thank the University Council and its Committees, the Senate and its Committees, our development partners, our students and staff and all our friends. What we have achieved is a collective effort; I hope we will continue to work together on Page 19 of 30

20 realizing our vision of building a premier University of excellence. At this point I would like to recognize the participation of my three fellow Chancellors on this occasion. The three are all my seniors. For a university of our age and size it is rare to find three Chancellors in Page 20 of 30

21 attendance. With your permission I ask each one of them to convey our greetings to their respective universities. Page 21 of 30

22 To the Graduands: Graduation from a university is amongst life's gigantic moments, Your hard labour has brought you to the end of your journey. However you are now starting a new journey and that is why Americans call graduation Page 22 of 30

23 commencement. In your next journey you will face many challenges. Your education at DKUT, should drive you to find out the truth, to be innovative and able to navigate through challenges in life. Page 23 of 30

24 Always be determined to succeed, imaginative, courageus, with a resolve to see that even in difficult times, opportunities do exist? Since the world is changing at an unbelievable speed and technology is evolving at amazing speed, we need well Page 24 of 30

25 educated practitioners. You have major role to play in the dynamic labour markets and to respond to these changes. For these reasons, you need to commit to lasting knowledge pursuit to keep yourselves relevant and practical. Page 25 of 30

26 You need to make a personal commitment for high ethical standards including embracing useful and appropriate cultural values in everything you do. Should you uphold high ethical standards, DKUT shall be partly credited for its graduates. Today, many of us have Page 26 of 30

27 lost the African values such as respect for elders but I urge you to rethink where we came from. I encourage all graduates to embrace entrepreneurship. Our graduates should become employers rather than jobs seekers. Page 27 of 30

28 And finally, do not think only of yourself. Think of your families that have sacrificed for you; think of your communities and counties that have given you so much; and think of our region and humanity; and think especially of how you can help the poor Page 28 of 30

29 and disadvantaged because you are the privileged ones who have got tertiary education. Conclusions I congratulate you all and wish you all the very best in your endeavours as you start a new chapter in your lives. Page 29 of 30

30 Thank you, God bless you, God bless Dedan Kimathi University of Technology. Page 30 of 30