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PAUSTI Admits 115 students, extends reach to 35 countries

|   PAUSTI

The Pan African University Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation (PAUSTI) has admitted the sixth cohort comprising 115 students, drawn from 35 African countries

The Pan African University Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation (PAUSTI) has admitted the sixth cohort comprising 115 students, drawn from 35 African countries. The students are enrolled in masters and doctorate programmes in areas such as mathematics, molecular biology and biotechnology, civil engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering.

Addressing the students after a week-long orientation on Friday May 10, 2019, Mr. Evans Atambo who represented Kenya’s Ministry of Education said, the students had earned themselves a chance to play active role in actualization of the continent’s development blueprint – Africa Agenda 2063.

He added that the Government of Kenya had committed resources for the construction of tuition and administration block with first phase already completed.

The Vice Chancellor of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Prof. Victoria Ngumi said the University will continue to play effective host to PAUSTI for the benefit of Africa.

Prof. Ngumi challenged students to use their synergy, energy and creativity and engage in cutting edge research whose results could be leveraged for economic development.

The students appreciated African Union for the scholarship, pledging to use their time at PAUSTI acquiring actionable knowledge for Africa’s benefit.

Betty Lame Phelalo from Botswana and pursuing MSc. Molecular Biology and Biotechnology said, the scholarship would enable her to undertake research that can impact Africa’s health sector while raising the profile of female scientists.

Likewise, Katte Reine from Benin, enrolled in the PhD civil engineering programme said the opportunity would enable her to interact with colleagues from different cultural backgrounds and exchange progressive research ideas. 

On his part, PAUSTI Director, Prof. Gabriel Magoma urged the students to emulate their predecessors by demonstrating high academic standards as a way of reciprocating the positive gesture the continent had bestowed on them.

Prof. Magoma said that besides the core units in their areas of specialization, the students would also be exposed to common courses such as history of Africa, gender and human rights and entrepreneurship. The courses, he added, were meant to help the students have a deeper appreciation of the continent in their search for sustainable solutions.

PAUSTI was the first Institute of PAU to graduate masters students in November 2014, a feat it repeated three years later, with the graduation of the first batch of doctorate students.