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Remarks by Prof. Simon Gicharu, CBS The Chairman, Board of Directors during the Launch of UniRP System

REMARKS

 BY

 Prof. Simon Gicharu, CBS

THE CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 DURING

 THE LAUNCH OF THE UNIVERSITY INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLANNING, (UnIRP)

 THEME: STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND INSTITUTIONAL LEGACY

 ON

 FRIDAY, 9^TH MAY, 2025

 AT

MWAI KIBAKI CONVENTION CENTER, (MKCC)

1.0   Salutation

• Chairman, Board of Directors,
• Chairman, ICT Audit Committee,
• The Team from Marwadi Technologies,
• Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Research Affairs, DVC ARA,
• Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Planning and Institutional Advancement,
• Members of Senate,
• Members of Management Board,
• Information, Communication and Technology, (ICT), Staff,
• Members of Staff Present,
• Mount Kenya University Students Association, (MKUSA),
• Ladies and Gentlemen

Good Afternoon!

2.0 Preliminaries – A move towards a Renewed Visionary Opening at MKU

Today, we gather for more than a launch—we gather to witness a transformation. The University Integrated Resource Planning, (UnIRP), signals a monumental leap forward in our digital evolution. It aligns not only with MKU’s 2025-2029 Strategic Plan and Kenya’s Vision 2030, but also with the United Nations SDGs 2030, the East African community Vision 2050 and African Union’s Agenda 2063, all of which envisions a digitally connected, innovative, and prosperous continent.

For over twenty years, MKU has stood for accessible, inclusive, and quality education. We have grown from a local institution into an international university, and with UnIRP, we are asserting our readiness to compete globally in a robust and a highly digitalized strategy. The decision to invest in UnIRP is a futuristic cover for MKU for the next decade and beyond.

This movement is not just about technology—it is about legacy and about ensuring that MKU remains a beacon of opportunity for generations to come. By embracing digital transformation, we are committing to excellence, equity, and innovation on a scale that matches the ambitions of our students and the needs of our continent.

3.0   The Strategic Imperative

Why University Integrated Resource Planning, (UnIRP)? We have opted for UnIRP because in today’s world institutions that master digital intelligence will lead in the knowledge economy space. The global higher education landscape is shifting rapidly. Universities that fail to adapt risk becoming obsolete, while those that harness data and technology will shape the future.

UnIRP is designed to empower every stakeholder at MKU:

• For Students: The University Integrated Resource Planning, (UnIRP), offers an end-to-end digital experience—from application to graduation—featuring mobile-first access, instant results, and smarter academic support systems. Imagine a student in a remote village accessing their exam results in real-time or registering for courses with a single tap on their phone.
• For Faculty and Staff: Expect data automation, predictive analytics, digital archiving, and AI-powered decision support tools. Teaching staff can now focus on teaching and research, not paperwork, while staff can leverage dashboards to streamline operations.

• For Leadership: The University Integrated Resource Planning, (UnIRP), provides governance-level insights through dashboards, compliance monitoring, and trend forecasting to drive proactive leadership. For example, the University Management can now access real-time data on enrollment trends or financial health to make informed strategic decisions.

This is not a system— rather, it is a strategy and a digital roadmap launched today, laying out how we will digitize operations in HR, finance, student services, library systems, procurement, and alumni engagement to offer a cutting-edge advantage to MKU for the next decade and beyond amidst all the fast-changing digital advancement. This roadmap is our blueprint for operational excellence and global competitiveness.

4.0   Building a Collaborative Ecosystem

The University Integrated Resource Planning, (UnIRP) is not an isolated initiative. This is because it is the cornerstone of a globally spread-out ecosystem of partnerships and innovation. Our collaboration with Marwadi Technologies exemplifies this. Their expertise in building scalable, secure, and user-centric systems has been instrumental in bringing University Integrated Resource Planning, (UnIRP) to life.

To our students, I say: you are not just beneficiaries of this system—you are co-creators. Your feedback will shape how the University Integrated Resource Planning, (UnIRP), evolves. We established a Migration Steering Committee, where staff representatives has been working with our ICT team to test features, suggest improvements, and ensure the system meets your needs.

To our faculty and staff: this is your moment to lead. University Integrated Resource Planning, (UnIRP), is a tool, but its success depends on your adoption and innovation. Over the next week, we will roll out comprehensive training programs, tailored to each department, to ensure you can leverage the University Integrated Resource Planning, (UnIRP’s) full potential. Localized support desks will be available on campus and online, and we have set up a feedback portal to capture your ideas and concerns.

5.0   A Call to Collective Action

To our colleagues at Marwadi Technologies, thank you for your vision, your engineering excellence, and your cultural alignment with our values. You have not just provided a solution—you have helped shape a future. We look forward to continuing this partnership as we scale the University Integrated Resource Planning, (UnIRP), across our campuses and beyond.

To the MKU family: embrace this system as your own. Training will be localized, support will be accessible, and your feedback will shape how we evolve UnIRP. This is not a top-down initiative—rather it is a collective effort to redefine what a university can be in the digital age.

Digital transformation is ultimately human transformation. And together, we are writing the next chapter in MKU’s story—one of innovation, agility, and shared prosperity. Let us walk boldly into the digital future, not as followers, but as leaders in African higher education.

Thank you, and may God bless Mount Kenya University.

 Prof.  Simon Gicharu, CBS

FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF DIRECTORS