SPEECH BY PROF. EDWIN WAMUKOYA, VICE CHANCELLOR, ZETECH UNIVERSITY DURING THE KAJIADO COUNTY PEACE CARAVAN CAREER FORUM IN LOITOKTOK ON SATURDAY 25TH JUNE 2015
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Members of the Media,
Good morning.
It is a great pleasure to be with you here today. On behalf of Zetech University community and on my own behalf, I wish to take this opportunity to thank you all for inviting us to take part in this important career forum.
Indeed, it is always encouraging to visit learners in this region and witness the growth of the education sector among the many communities that live here.
Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” and we are glad to see so many students in this insightful forum eager to learn about their higher education options.
History
Allow me ladies and gentlemen to share the Zetech story. The university began as an ICT centre many years ago as a result of the ambition of a young man named Ken Mbiuki, who began by typing assignments for students while at the University of Nairobi. Thereafter, the centre devolved into a college offering a range of different courses as a result of the increased demand for education among Kenyans.
In August last year, we were privileged to haveattained full university status, afterreceivinga Letter of Interim Authority from the Commission for University Education and we are now a university, educating over 7000 students.
Facilities
Today, as we educate the nation, we have established four campuses.Our main campus is a four-level structure expertly constructed to serve as a hub for teaching, research, administration and social activities based in Ruiru, along the Thika super highway. It holds spacious lecture rooms, a 750 seater modern library, a 300 seater amphitheatre, a top class engineering hub, a first class radio and TV studio equipped with an editing suite, to ensure students have a great learning experience. We also have three well established campuses located in the Nairobi City Business District.
Our Products
At Zetech, we offer Degree, Diploma and Certificate education in the areas of Business, ICT, Engineering, Hospitality, Education, Arts and Social Sciences as well as Media Arts and Design.
Ladies and gentlemen, once you complete your KSCE exams, it is important that you use your time wisely to develop your skills as you wait for your results. Acknowledging that this is a good time for growth, we offer short courses in these areas that run for a few weeks at affordable costs to help you attain knowledge that will enrich you.
In addition, you are allowed to register for any course, apart from those under the KNEC programme, with your mock results, provided these results are stamped by the school; this way, you can kick off your university education early.
Virtual and Distance Learning
I’m sure we all agree thatwe are living in a digital world and as expected,Zetech is keeping up with the times. We have workable options such as virtual learning where you register and learn online and only come to campus physically to do your exams. We also provide a Distance Learning option where one can pick notes from any of our campuseson all units under your desired programme, you study on your own and only visit the campus again to do your exams. These are great options to enable you to studyconveniently.
Scholarships
My dear students, to enhance equity in society, Zetech University offers bursaries and scholarships to qualified students from needy backgrounds and vulnerable groups. This is geared towards helping financially challenged students to acquire knowledge, skills, and valuesfrom a recognised university.
Additionally, the University has established linkages with the business and donor communities aimed at boosting the endowment kitty from which several bright Kenyan Students and other African youth from poor backgrounds secure funding for university education.
Therefore, there is an opportunity for such qualified persons to apply for a scholarship; you can download the form from our website www.zetech.ac.ke. In addition, as we are keen on talent development, we offer 50% off to students who excel in sports such as football and enable them to get university education.
Talent and Development:
Speaking of talent, we have established a strong talent and development programme at our institution to build and develop you. In the areas of sports, arts, community service, among others, we are creating opportunities for students to participate and grow their talents so as to leave the university a holistic graduate. In fact, our men and ladies sports teams are doing an excellent job representing us in the national leagues; we are the 2014 Basketball and football men champions. Even in the entertainment area, we have an award-winning drama club that won the metropolitan drama festivals this year.
As I conclude, I wish to add that we have a robust mentorship programme designed to nurture students and equip them with the necessary skills besides academic abilities to join and excel in the competitive employment world. We have a strong Placement Office that handles work related programmes and mock interviews to empower our students to prepare adequately to join the job market. Recently, we established a roll of honor program; a career and personal integrity specialized programme aimed at building student capacity in readiness for life after university education.
Indeed, though such forums, you are able to directly engage with career advisors who will detail to you how to use your time suitably at university while enjoying your educational experience.When you join university, remember to be active in school events and school clubs as these platforms will be of great importance to you. You will gain leadership and practical skills through these avenues and you will develop your brand.
Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to stop there. There is a lot to know about Zetech and I look forward to engaging with you through this great forum that is the Kajiado County Peace Forum. Thank you once again and enjoy the day.