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Kenyan universities have been challenged to make better use of their land, facilities, research and other resources instead of leaving valuable assets underused.
The call was made by Principal Secretary for Public Investments and Assets Management Cyrell Wagunda during an education summit in Kisumu, where he urged institutions to make their assets more productive.
Research Seen as Untapped Opportunity
Wagunda said universities produce large amounts of research and new ideas, but much of that knowledge does not move beyond laboratories and academic papers.
He urged institutions to improve technology transfer, innovation, incubation and intellectual property management so that research can be turned into useful products and services.
The approach could also create new businesses and employment opportunities while helping graduates gain skills that are relevant to the workplace.
Universities Urged to Use Assets Better
The government official said universities should also pay closer attention to the management of physical assets held by public institutions.
These include land, buildings, laboratories, ICT facilities, research centres, student accommodation and equipment.
Wagunda stressed that making assets productive should not mean simply selling or commercialising public property.
Instead, he said the focus should be on ensuring that public assets remain useful, sustainable and connected to the main goals of each institution.
Private Sector Partnerships Encouraged
Universities are also being encouraged to work more closely with private companies as part of the proposed approach.
Such partnerships could provide students with opportunities for internships, practical projects and exposure to real workplace challenges.
The government is also promoting public-private partnerships as a way of bringing private investment and expertise into projects involving public assets.
Focus Shifts Towards Jobs and Innovation
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has previously called for stronger links between universities, technical institutions and industry.
The government wants institutions to give greater attention to digital skills, problem-based learning and entrepreneurship while ensuring training responds to labour-market needs.
The wider objective is to make higher education contribute more directly to economic growth by connecting learning, research and innovation with practical needs.
For universities, the new push could therefore mean greater attention being placed on how their research, property and expertise are managed and used to create public value.
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