Simon Fraser University team to strengthen stakeholder relations with UON

Abstract

Three top University officials from the Simon Fraser University (SFU), Canada, are on a visiting tour of the University of Nairobi (UoN) as part of an ongoing collaborative project dubbed Strengthening Higher Education Stakeholder Relations. The team comprises Dr. Michael Stevenson, President Emeritus – Simon Fraser University, Mr. Michael C. Volker, Director, SFU’s University - Industry Liaison Office Ms. Shaheen Nanji, Director of International Development, and SFU. The team paid a courtesy call to the Vice-Chancellor, represented by Prof. Isaac Mbeche, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Student Affairs, before proceeding to a session with the Strategic Planning Team and thereafter visited two campuses i.e. the Lower Kabete Campus (School of Business) and the College of Education and External Studies at Kikuyu. The visit is a 12-day itinerary during which they are expected to assist UoN in developing a co-ordinate institutional strategy for strengthening external relations strategy including developing and linking University of Nairobi knowledge and innovations with business and social sector stakeholders. As contextualized by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Prof. Jacob Kaimenyi, during a dinner party he hosted for team on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, this is a Strategic Planning Partnership, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) being part of its assistance programmes provided through the Association of the Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC), which has come on account of UoN’s membership and association with AAU (Association of African Universities). Ms. Shaheen Nanji, (SFU), said that Prof. Timothy Waema and Dr. Kamau Gachigi were critical to the initiation of the project. The team consulted with various stakeholders among them top government officials. The SFU you will be on the working trip at the University of Nairobi till December 1, 2011.