URGENCY IN TRAINING PROFESSIONALS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

Education and training of professionals for infrastructure development would play a major role in the process of transforming Kenyan economy, Prof Francis Gichaga, chancellor of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has said.

Speaking during an infrastructure conference, Gichaga said the major actors in delivering education and training for infrastructure include the government, the universities (and polytechnics) and the industry.

He pointed out that poor infrastructure has made Kenyan goods expensive in the international market. “The manufacturing sector’s performance has been adversely affected by the inefficient infrastructure in the form of poor roads, inefficient railway, inadequate and expensive power/energy, and inefficient communication systems.”

He said if we are able to make our infrastructure reasonably efficient, our manufactured goods would be competitive in the international market and thereby attract more local and foreign investors leading to creation of employment opportunities for many more Kenyans with accompanying enhancement of the standard of living of Kenyans.

Notwithstanding that less than 10 percent of the candidates who sit for secondary examination gain admission to universities and a handful finding opportunities to pursue engineering related courses in both public and private universities. Gichaga, a professor in civil engineering noted that engineering programmes of the 1960’s have undergone considerable metamorphosis in order to respond to the market demand of the engineering industry. “We have witnessed developments and innovations leading to new disciplines in engineering with establishment of new departments and others adopting new titles.”

The civil engineer said in addition to degree graduates in engineering it is important to recognize the significant contribution by technologists and technicians who have graduated over the years from the national polytechnics in this broad area of education and training of professionals for infrastructure development.

Said he: In the process of educating and training professionals for infrastructure development we have faced many challenges including: Limited opportunities for training in universities and polytechnics and limited or lack of properly structured industrial/practical attachment for trainees during training in universities and polytechnics.

The chancellor said after graduating from the University or Polytechnic the trainee must be taken through a formally structured training programme with clearly defined objectives by the trainee during the training period. The industry should be required to provide a conducive training environment with proper supervision.


“The need for continuing education is acknowledged in all professions,” Gichaga said, adding: Continuing education provides an opportunity for a worker to enhance his capacity to deliver through attending seminars, short courses, holiday courses, evening classes - during which time the participants are taught and exposed to modern techniques of carrying out their tasks more efficiently. Continuing education additionally provides opportunities for workers, including professionals, to improve their academic and professional qualifications. Continuing education can also be structured to provide industry-specific programmes which could be mounted by universities/polytechnics jointly with the relevant industries.

He further said if Kenya is to rise to the next orbit of development level, comparable to the middle income countries in the world, it is imperative that we give research and development special attention through adequate funding. “We must additionally develop and maintain efficient industries and infrastructure with accompanying properly trained professionals to develop and manage the industries and associated infrastructure.”

During the conference it was agreed that it is important to educate the young in order to prepare them for their leadership roles when addressing the challenges of the knowledge economy of the future. Being futuristic by adopting sophisticated and advanced technology requiring the use of facilities like computer numerically controlled (CNC) and Computer Aided Design (CAD) and computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) Equipment.

In the area of university education, various experts said there is need to orient the curricula towards science, technology and innovation. They called upon more invest in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) education and training so that Kenyans are equipped to address the challenges of the knowledge economy. The universities on their part were challenged to lobby the government and the industry in order to influence policy formulation to ensure that policies by government and the industry become university-friendly with the aim of achieving more effective collaboration between universities and industries in Kenya in order to ensure that university education responds to the requirements of the industries.