Mount Kenya University (MKU) and its ACCESS consortia partners led by University of Leipzig has been awarded funding under Phase 2 of the DAAD Project Implementation and Transfer Strategy (2025-2029) to spearhead a collaborative initiative with 10 leading Kenyan universities. This project will enhance entrepreneurship education and service-learning, directly benefiting staff and students through funded joint activities with focused support from industry.
Key Funded Activities (2025-2029)
1. Development of a Joint Common National Competence Based-Entrepreneurship Unit
- A curriculum committee, with experts from each university, will design a program featuring: Capstone assignments, Self-paced (AI) learning integrated into each university’s Virtual Learning Management System (VLMS),
- An AI-powered monitoring tool to track learning progress
- Currently, the Entrepreneurship unit is being supported by KAM, KEPSA, and Local Innovation Hubs adopting the DACUM approach and at validation and will be presented to each university approval process for adoption once complete.
2. Integration of Problem Based- Service-Learning (SL) in MBA Program
Universities will collaborate to develop Research Methodology SL Modules and Unit Specialization SL Modules to enhance practical learning in research projects with local SMEs, where students act as consultants while writing their research projects. Currently, the project is being supported by KAM, KEPSA, and Local Innovation Hubs.
3. Establishment of Student ACCESS Business Ideas Clubs (October)
- Each university will nominate three top students annually to attend a five-day business bootcamp. This is done through individual universities-based competition (leveraging the AGEA platform- https://www.ageacademy.de/agea-business-idea-competition/ ) that will select and vet the top teams to participate in the annual bootcamps.
- These bootcamps will also include industry experts, innovation hubs experts to provide technical advices and expose the students to local, regional and international networks on possibilities of establishing new ventures.
- At least one faculty member from each university will accompany the students.
- Currently, MKU is inching a collaborative agreement with Enrich Africa to promote student-based business ideas through its rich EU-AU collaborative network in addition to the ACCESS SEPT with Leipzig University.
For more details on ACCESS project, visit:
�� ACCESS Centre Website
This collaboration marks a significant milestone in fostering entrepreneurial skills, industry engagement, and service-learning integration across Kenyan universities. Stay tuned for more updates as the project unfolds!
Africa Centre for Career Enhancement and Skill Support (ACCESS 2.0)-Kenya
Local Partners Contacts
| S/No | University/Industry | Name | Position | |
| 1 | Daystar University | Mr. Charles Katua | Faculty, School of Business and Economics | ckatua@daystar.ac.ke |
| 2 | Kabarak University | Dr. Faith Yator | Deputy Director, TVET Institute & Coordinator Outreach and Linkages | fyator@kabarak.ac.ke |
| 3 | Karatina University | Prof. Kellen Kiambati | Coordinator, Center for Career and Placement Service | kkiambati@karu.ac.ke |
| 4 | Kenyatta University | Prof. Stephen Muathe | Lecturer, School of Business | Muathe.stephen@ku.ac.ke |
| 5 | Machakos University | Dr. Erick Omuya | Faculty, ICT | Omuya.erick@mksu.ac.ke |
| 6 | Riara University | Mr. Nicholas Mwaura | Dean of Students | nmwaura@riarauniversity.ac.ke |
| 7 | Strathmore University | Dr. Njeri Ngaruiya Ng’ang’a | Computing | mngaruiya@strathmore.edu |
| 8 | Technical University of Kenya | Dr. Ruth Ruhiu | SBE | Ruth.ruhiu@tukenya.ac.ke |
| 9 | Zetech University | Ms. Esther Mwangi | Research Coordinator | Esther.Mwangi@zetech.ac.ke |
| 10 | Tharaka University | Dr. James Nyamu | Dean, SBE | jimnyamu71@gmail.com |
Dr. Henry Yatich, Ph.D
ACCESS Project Coordinator, 2025-2029 & Principal, College of Graduate Studies and Research, Mount Kenya University
