Mount Kenya University’s Vice-Chancellor has been honored with a Certificate of Appreciation for the institution’s active participation in the 13th Academia Public-Private Partnership Forum and Exhibition (APPPF) held in Kigali, Rwanda from March 12 to 14, 2025.
The prestigious forum, organized by the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), brought together academia, researchers, innovators, policymakers, and industry leaders to strengthen collaboration between universities and industries in addressing regional development challenges.
The APPPF, established in 2012, has grown into a pivotal event fostering academia-industry partnerships across the East African region. Held every two years, it provides a vital platform for networking, idea exchange, and co-creation of solutions to address pressing economic and developmental issues facing the region.
Speaking at the forum, Hon. Joseph Nsengimana, Rwanda’s Minister of Education, emphasized the significance of strong academia-industry partnerships in driving Africa’s economic transformation.
He also launched the Research Excellence Framework for Higher Education in East Africa (REFHE-EA), an initiative aimed at bolstering research quality and fostering university-industry collaboration across the region.
The 13th APPPF-2025 focuses on the complementary roles of universities and industries in innovation, job creation, and wealth generation. Key areas of discussion include :Strengthening university-industry partnerships, enhancing the commercialization of research and technological advancements, Developing skilled and innovative graduates to drive economic transformation and leveraging artificial intelligence for industrial innovation.
Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, IUCEA’s Executive Secretary, praised the forum’s role in fostering sustainable development, stating, “Through strategic collaborations, we can transform research into impactful solutions and build a competitive knowledge economy for East Africa.”
The recognition of Mount Kenya University’s contributions highlights its dedication to fostering innovation, research excellence, and academia-industry linkages, ultimately driving socio-economic growth in East Africa.
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