University students urged to tackle climate change

Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi Vice Chancellor of Mount Kenya University. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

African university students have been challenged to take a front role in research on climate change and find solutions to the resultant consequences.

Namibia Vice President Nangolo Mbumba said it is time the continent relied on its own resources on matters of scientific research and more so human resource.

"Institutions of higher learning in Africa must collaborate in research and other areas of science so as to solve the problems facing their communities," Mbumba said.

Nbumba spoke on Wednesday during the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the International University of Management, Namibia (IUM) and Mount Kenya University (MKU) in Thika.

The collaboration is meant to boost medical research between the two institutions.

The MoU was signed by MKU Vice-Chancellor Prof Deogratius Jaganyi and Professor Peter Nyarango, Researcher and Coordinator School of Medicine, Namibia.

It covers various areas of staff and student exchange on medical courses as well as shared online teaching and learning programs.

According to Jaganyi, the agreement also involves joint research and publications, community engagement and primary health care, telemedicine, sharing of online resource materials, joint grant writing and extra-mural rotations.

"The collaboration will see the two higher learning institutions engage in exchange programmes between the students and their human resources who will venture into joint research and training initiatives," Prof Jaganyi said.

His sentiments were echoed by Nyarango who stated that through the joint ventures, students will be able to broaden their thinking and help come up with solutions to the challenges facing the world.