JKUAT and Technical University of Berlin Kick-off Academic Collaboration

Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration and Finance, Prof. Bernard Ikua, hosts the TU Berlin delegation and other stakeholders during the courtesy meeting at the Vice Chancellor’s Office.

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and the Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin) have commenced a four-year academic partnership aimed at strengthening academic exchange, knowledge sharing and student mobility under a joint project dubbed “Transfer Factory for Sustainable Engineering in East Africa.”

Supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the partnership will be implemented through the Department of Mechatronic Engineering from 2026 to 2029. The collaboration was discussed during a meeting with JKUAT Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Ngumi, where the two institutions outlined key areas of engagement and agreed on the next steps towards implementation.

Representing the Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration and Finance, Prof. Bernard Ikua, received the delegation from TU Berlin and other stakeholders and led discussions on the identified areas of engagement and modalities for taking the partnership forward.

Prof. Ikua said the partnership presents an important opportunity for JKUAT to strengthen its academic and research linkages with international institutions while creating opportunities for knowledge exchange and student mobility.

With JKUAT keen on advancing its internationalisation agenda and expanding its global academic reach, Prof. Ikua noted that partnerships of this nature provide an avenue for the University to deepen international cooperation and expose students and staff to diverse academic and professional perspectives.

Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration and Finance, Prof. Bernard Ikua gives his remarks during the meeting.

“We are delighted that our students and staff will benefit from opportunities to exchange knowledge, share experiences and gain exposure to different academic and professional environments. Such engagements are important in strengthening our capacity and broadening our perspectives,” said Prof. Ikua.

Lead of the delegation, Dr.-Ing. Sören Müller, MBA, Managing Director and Institute Director of the Extrusion Research Centre at TU Berlin, said the partnership will foster the exchange of expertise and knowledge while supporting student mobility between the two institutions.

Dr. Müller acknowledged TU Berlin’s commitment to strengthening international academic partnerships, noting that the engagement with JKUAT provides an opportunity to share expertise, promote joint learning and create opportunities for students and staff to gain international exposure.

“This partnership, we also hope to expand into other areas of mutual interest, creating more opportunities for knowledge exchange, research engagement and academic mobility between the two institutions,” said Dr. Müller.

Chair of the Department of Mechatronic Engineering, Dr.-Ing. Wamai Mwangi, said the engagement presents an opportunity to strengthen the Department’s academic and research activities through international knowledge exchange and engagement with TU Berlin.

The project brings together experts from academia, industry and design, including Mr. Tosh Juma, a strategist and design consultant; Gunnar Krüger, an instructor at a Swiss Design School; and Rolf Mehnert, Chief Design Officer, Business Design Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Fuenfwerken Design AG.

The JKUAT team comprises Dr.-Ing. James Kimotho from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Dr.-Ing. Jackson Njiri, Dr. Rehema Ndeda and Dr. Eng. Kabini Karanja from the Department of Mechatronic Engineering.

JKUAT and Technical University of Berlin Kick-off Academic Collaboration.