Juja, Kenya: The graduation ceremony for students at the Pan African University Institute for Basic Science, Technology and Innovation took place on Friday, June 23, 2023, at the main campus in Juja, Kenya. During the ceremony, which was held in conjunction with the 40th graduation ceremony of the host Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), 4,299 recipients received their diplomas, including 60 from PAUSTI.

PAUSTI graduands include 39 Master's graduates, 13 of whom are women and 26 men, and 21 PhD graduates, 18 of whom are men and 3 women.  28 nationalities are represented among the 2023 PAUSTI graduates: Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 

In all, 296 Certificates, 406 diplomas, 3062 bachelor degrees, 79 postgraduate diplomas, 386 Masters degrees and 70 Doctorates were honored at the graduation ceremony, which began with a university procession, followed by the rendition of the anthems of the Republic of Kenya, the African Union, and the host university, JKUAT.

The theme chosen for the occasion spoke volumes about the ambitions of those in charge of these temples of knowledge: "leveraging higher education, research and innovation: putting higher education, research and innovation at the service of sustainable development". The words were sufficiently evocative for Prof. Kenneth Matengu, President of the  Pan-African University (PAU) Council to emphasize them in his message of congratulations to the graduates.

In his speech, Prof. Joseph Mathu Ndung'u, Chancellor of JKUAT, equally reminded the graduands that the ceremony marked a special turning point in their academic and professional careers. He urged them to "exemplify the enduring values of creativity, collaboration, integrity and community service, and apply their skills, knowledge and training to provide sustainable solutions to the challenges facing humanity". In the same vein, Professor Victoria Wambui Ngumi, Vice-Chancellor of JKUAT,      also expressed great confidence in the training that the Class of 2023 had received. It has adequately prepared them to respond effectively to the needs of society. In short, good soldiers to face the job market and even entrepreneurship. In the evening, the PAUSTI graduates were honored at a dinner attended by special guests.  Africa is counting on them and other PAUSTI and PAU students to build the Africa we want, as set out in the 2063 Agenda.

Studies at the Pan-African University are tuition-free (African Union scholarship awarded on the basis of merit) and calls for applications for the 2023-2024 academic year will be launched on July 10, 2023.

Chancelle Bilampassi Moutsatsi