WAMUYU KAMBO is the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Administration, Planning and Development at Inoorero University. She is part of the brains that midwifed the upgrading of Kenya School of Professional Studies into a full-fledged university. She spoke to HELLEN MISEDA
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| WAMUYU KAMBO is the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Administration, Planning and Development at Inoorero University |
September 18, 2009, remains a special day for me. I was then the principal of Kenya School of Professional Studies (KSPS). On this cold morning, I sat and watched tensely together with fellow staff and directors as the Commissioner for Higher Education handed KSPS the letter of interim authority, upgrading it to Inoorero University (IU).
It was an emotional moment. We had worked so hard to meet the stringent requirements of transforming KSPS to Inoorero University, and watching it unfold before my eyes was such a happy moment. It remains a key highlight of my life.
There is one thing I believe about success; that it is not the strong who survive, but those who are able to embrace change.
The birth of IU was not a walk in the park and even today, as I sit as Inoorero’s Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Administration, Planning and Development, there is still much to do to achieve IU’s vision of being a transformational university.
I am in charge of IU’s strategic planning, finances and development, and this way I see myself as managing a business. If not interacting with the academics about learning issues, I am brushing shoulders with financiers, current and potential partners, and architects of the university’s new campus at Kiserian.
IU’s strategy is to be responsive to the market needs and to differentiate itself through a practical problem solving teaching approach, which embraces information, communication and technology (ICT), entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity. Students are challenged to be problem solvers.
TRANSFORMING MINDSETS
This is what the current knowledge society requires. Thinking like entrepreneurs stimulates creativity and innovation. If we don’t train graduates to create jobs we will keep complaining about unemployment.
Transforming mindsets is the biggest challenge.
Parents may wonder why they need to buy laptops for students; and not every member of staff will embrace the new teaching methodology.
