University dons are agitating for close partnerships between academia and industry to address skills mismatch challenges.
Mount Kigali University Vice-Chancellor Dr Martin Kimemia, Prod Deogratius Jaganyi of MKU, and the Chairman of the Education Sector at the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Dr Vincent Gaitho, aver that it is imperative to find solutions to the country’s and region’s problems.
Dr Kimemia said that enhancing partnerships is imperative to address the persistent skills mismatch between university education and the evolving demands of the job market.
He emphasized the need for higher education institutions to develop curricula in direct collaboration with industry stakeholders.
The three dons said it was time to cultivate closer academia-industry partnerships. They urged the region’s universities to collaborate with industry when developing curricula.
Additionally, they underscored the industry’s role in dual training, internship and apprenticeship.
“Many highly qualified experts in the industry, including PhD holders, can contribute significantly to academic training. We need to involve them to make education more practical and aligned with real-world demands,” said Dr Gaitho.
In a forum, MKU’s principal for corporate services and director linkages and partnerships, Prof. Peter Wanderi, said the institution was walking the talk on academia-industry collaboration.
He highlighted the initiatives both MKU and Mount Kigali University were involved in that are helping to produce graduates fit for the job market. Prof Wanderi explained how universities can promote Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) initiative.
As a long-standing UNAI member, MKU previously served as the SDG 10 Hub on Reduced Inequalities (2021– 2024) and has now been selected as the SDG 9 Hub Chair (2025–2027), emphasizing Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
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The university aligns its policies, research, and community engagement with the SDGs through various initiatives.
The MKU Innovation and Incubation Centre, co-sponsored by the European Union through the Erasmus Plus Programme, fosters entrepreneurship and technological advancements.
The university’s Annual Research and Innovation Week provides a platform for students and faculty to engage in industry-driven research, ensuring that academic work contributes to practical solutions.
By Kamau Njoroge
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