Why Mount Kenya University Is Strengthening Global and Local Partnerships

Mount Kenya University (MKU) Chancellor Prof John Struthers, an enthusiastic supporter of partnerships, says the institution will continue to forge more. It has already signed some new ones, inspired by the benefits its students, faculty and brand continue to derive from ongoing collaborations.

For the last five years, MKU has been leading a consortia of other local universities – presently 10 in number after more joined along the way that are involved in Leipzig University’s Africa Centre for Career Enhancement and Skill Support (ACCESS), which supports innovation among students.

Initiated in 2000 as a five-year project, ACCESS, funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), was this year renewed for another five years (2025-2029) to continue aiding student innovations that are designed to solve real-world challenges, with MKU still spearheading the local chapter.

Through a common undergraduate entrepreneurship guideline and module, ACCESS 2.0 as it is now branded, works with SMEs to enable MBA students solve problems facing the sector.

Already, under the renewed partnership, an MKU project coordinator is undergoing a Certified Innovation Manager (CIM) and Trainer of Trainers course at SEPT Competence Centre at Leipzig University.

Also taking the same training are industry partners from the Micro and Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA), Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), and Association of Start-up and SMEs Enablers of Kenya (ASSEK). After the training, they are expected to promote the service-learning concept with industry from 2026. This concept is co-developed with 10 local universities.

The SEPT Competence Centre is an international research and training facility focused on promoting start-ups and SMEs. Meanwhile, last month, MKU signed a collaboration agreement with ENRICH in Africa (EiA), a Cape Town-based organization championing collaboration between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU). In 2025 alone, the initiative has managed to submit five grant proposals to the EU, the German international cooperation agency (GIZ) and DAAD, for funding.

Also, MKU collaborates with Leipzig University under the Erasmus+ Programme, which offers support to student innovators aiming to establish start-ups in Germany or local production units. This partnership enables top innovators at the university to participate in the annual Born Global Startup Festival in Leipzig, Germany.

The event provides a platform for start-ups to showcase their innovations on the international stage and network with entrepreneurs from various other parts of the world.

These collaborations reflect MKU’s commitment to global partnerships that foster skills development, entrepreneurship, and knowledge exchange for its students, aligning with the university’s vision of producing globally competitive graduates.