The Secretary-General of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), Professor Ernest Aryeetey, has begun a tour of six member universities in East Africa.
Professor Ernest Aryeetey in meeting with Professor Margaret Hutchinson and representatives of ARUA Centres of Excellence at UoN
His first stop was the University of Nairobi, where he met with the Vice Chancellor, Professor Stephen Kiama, and his senior management team on Wednesday, 31st August.
In the meeting with Professor Kiama, Professor Aryeetey briefed him about various developments at ARUA and sought his support for several proposed initiatives under the new ARUA strategic plan. They discussed the requirements for effective implementation of the strategic plan, the proposed decentralization of the network by broadening the level of engagement through platforms for Deans and other university leaders, the upcoming meeting of ARUA Vice Chancellors in Cape Town and the meeting with Rectors, Presidents, and Vice Chancellors from the Guild of European Research-intensive Universities. Professor Kiama pledged his support for all the initiatives and assured Professor Aryeetey that the planned review of the UoN strategic plan would be designed to align with the ARUA plan.
Professor Aryeetey also held meetings with the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Enterprise, Professor Margaret Hutchinson and the Director for Research and Enterprise, Professor Justus Munyoki to discuss the Carnegie-sponsored data-gathering and benchmarking project. In attendance were members of the Nairobi data team. The team assured the Secretary-General of their commitment to the project on a long-term basis. Professor Aryeetey acknowledged the significant support he has received from Professor Hutchinson since the latter assumed office just over two years ago.
Professor Ernest Aryeetey and Professor Margaret Hutchinson
The University of Nairobi arranged for the Secretary-General to meet with the new leadership of the ARUA Centre of Excellence for Non-Communicable Diseases under Professor Fred Bukachi and Dr Anne Kamau. They reviewed the work of the Centre and discussed plans for the future. The Secretary-General also met with eight other researchers at UoN who are associated with various ARUA Centres of Excellence. Professor Aryeetey observed that UoN has the highest number of researchers working with different ARUA Centres of Excellence.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stephen Kiama, hosted a dinner in honour of the visiting Secretary-General. At the dinner, attended by the senior management of UoN, the VC assured the SG of his total commitment to collaboration with African universities under ARUA auspices.